Living donor liver transplantation for hepatoblastoma with Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome

Sasaki K, Kasahara M, Fukuda A, Shigeta T, Tanaka H, Nakagawa S, Mitsui K, Harada R, Nakagawa A. Living donor liver transplantation for hepatoblastoma with Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome.
Pediatr Transplantation 2010: 14:E89–E92. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: BWS is one of the most well‐known somatic overgrowth syndromes, which is characterized by macroglossia, organomegaly, abdominal wall defects, and predisposition to embryonal tumors, such as Wilms’ tumor, hepatoblastoma, and adrenocortical carcinoma. We report a case of BWS in a girl with unresectable hepatoblastoma, who received a planned LVDT following neo‐adjuvant chemotherapy. This is the first case report of liver transplantation for patients with BWS. Tumor surveillance after transplantation would be necessary to detect possible recurrence of the original disease and development of other malignancies.     

Diagnosis of Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome in children presenting with Wilms tumor

Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a genetic syndrome associated with overgrowth and cancer predisposition, including predisposition to Wilms tumor (WT). Patients with BWS and BWS spectrum are screened from birth to age 7 years for BWS‐associated cancers. However, in some cases a BWS‐associated cancer may be the first recognized manifestation of the syndrome. We describe 12 patients diagnosed with BWS after presenting with a WT. We discuss the features of BWS in these patients and hypothesize that earlier detection of BWS by attention to its subtler manifestations could lead to earlier detection of children at risk for associated malignancies.     

Management of adrenal masses in patients with Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome

Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a genetic overgrowth and cancer predisposition syndrome, associated with both benign and malignant adrenal findings. Literature review and an institutional case series elucidate the wide spectrum of adrenal findings in BWS patients. The altered expression of the 11p15 region is likely related to adrenal gland hyperplasia and growth dysregulation. Given the absence of guidelines for managing adrenal findings in BWS, we propose a systematic approach to adrenal findings in BWS patients, to allow for maximum detection of potentially malignant pathology without posing additional risk to patients.     

Neonatal urethral polyps associated with Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome

We report the first case of Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome without urinary obstruction, but with a congenital urethral polyp as a tumor protruding from the external urinary meatus. The present case suggests a possible relation between Beckwith–Wiedemann and the onset of fibroepithelial polyps in the reno‐urinary system during the neonatal period.     

Prognostic factors for event‐free survival in liver transplantation for hepatoblastoma: A single‐center experience

Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common malignant liver tumor in children. Twenty percent of the cases may remain unresectable after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and, for these patients, liver transplant (LT) is an accepted therapeutic option. To analyze the risk factors to event‐free survival (EFS) that influence the clinical outcome of patients with HB receiving LT, we retrospectively analyzed 21 patients with HB who underwent LT between January 1, 2005, and May 1, 2018. Overall survival (OS) was 90%. The univariate analysis shows that the AFP level at the time of LT was associated with a higher risk of EFS. With a ROC curve analysis, we established a cutoff point value of AFP levels at 16 000 ng/dL, with a sensitivity of 71.43% and a specificity of 85.71%. Multivariate analysis showed that patients with higher values of pretransplant AFP (>16 000 ng/dL) had a significantly higher risk of EFS than those transplanted with lower levels (HR: 10.180; 95% CI: 1.54‐66.97; P = .02). Efforts should be made to improve the selection of candidates for LT for unresectable HB, aiming at a better definition of chemoresistance as a risk factor of poor outcomes.     

Fibroadenoma in Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome with paternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 11p15.5

Herein is described a case of breast fibroadenomas in a 16‐year‐old girl with Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) and uniparental disomy (UPD) of chromosome 11p15.5. She was clinically diagnosed with BWS and direct closure was performed for an omphalocele at birth. Subtotal and 90% pancreatectomy were performed for nesidioblastosis at the ages 2 months and 8 years, respectively. Bilateral multiple breast fibroadenomas were noted at the age of 16 and 17 years. In this case, paternal UPD of chromosome 11p15.5 was identified on microsatellite marker analysis. The relevant imprinted chromosomal region in BWS is 11p15.5, and UPD of chromosome 11p15 is a risk factor for BWS‐associated tumorigenicity. Chromosome 11p15.5 consists of imprinting domains of IGF2, the expression of which is associated with the tumorigenesis of various breast cancers. This case suggests that fibroadenomas occurred in association with BWS.     

基于甲胎蛋白临床诊断肝母细胞瘤行新辅助化疗可行性分析

目的探讨基于血清甲胎蛋白(AFP)升高和肝脏影像学的临床诊断行经验性新辅助化学治疗在儿童肝母细胞瘤临床诊疗中的可行性。方法回顾分析近5年收治的80例原发肝占位患儿的临床资料,其中肝母细胞瘤50例和非肝母细胞瘤30例。分析血清AFP对临床诊断儿童原发肝占位为肝母细胞瘤的灵敏度和特异度;根据化疗前是否有病理证据将50例肝母细胞瘤患儿分为经验性化疗组和有病理化疗组,比较两组最终病理结果、总生存率(OS)和无事件生存率(EFS)。结果血清AFP异常升高诊断儿童原发肝占位为肝母细胞瘤的灵敏度为98%,特异度100%;与病理诊断的一致性高(Kappa=0.97,P0.001)。肝母细胞瘤经验性化疗组和有病理化疗组3年OS分别为88.3%和90.7%,EFS分别为74.8%和81.3%;经Log-rank检验,OS和EFS的差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。经COX回归分析发现,在校正年龄、性别因素后,化疗前有无病理证据对PRETEX分期Ⅲ、Ⅳ期肝母细胞瘤3年OS和EFS影响无统计学意义(HR=4.68,95%CI:0.55～39.91;HR=2.34,95%CI:0.53～10.28)。结论根据血清AFP明显升高,可鉴别儿童肝母细胞瘤与其他儿童原发肝占位性疾病。基于血清AFP升高临床诊断肝母细胞瘤可指导手术耐受差的患儿术前新辅助化疗,降低手术风险。     

Successful treatment of doxorubicin and cisplatin resistant hepatoblastoma in a child with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome with high dose acetaminophen and N-acetylcysteine rescue

High dose acetaminophen (HDAC) with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been effective in adults with advanced malignancies. We report HDAC with NAC in a child with progressive hepatoblastoma, confirmed at biopsy of an unresectable hepatic mass. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) increased despite four courses of doxorubicin and one course of cisplatin, 5-flurouracil, and vincristine. Following HDAC with NAC, AFP markedly decreased. A continued response without toxicity was observed during four subsequent courses of HDAC with NAC and cisplatin. The residual necrotic tumor was resected. The child is now over 8 years disease free. HDAC and NAC are effective and well tolerated for progressive hepatoblastoma.     

Successful use of transarterial radioembolization with yttrium‐90 (TARE‐Y90) in two children with hepatoblastoma

Primary malignant liver tumors are rare but all require surgical resection as part of therapy with curative intent. A minority of patients have resectable tumors at diagnosis. Chemotherapy has a therapeutic role in hepatoblastoma but only one‐third of patients have resectable disease at diagnosis. Two children with hepatoblastoma and suboptimal responses to initial chemotherapy received therapy with transarterial radioembolization utilizing yttrium‐90 (TARE‐Y90) and had significant response leading to resection and remission. The role of TARE‐Y90 needs to be studied further to define its use in primary pediatric liver neoplasms.     

11p15 duplication and 13q34 deletion with Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome and factor VII deficiency

Here we report a patient with 11p15.4p15.5 duplication and 13q34 deletion presenting with Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) and moderate deficiency of factor VII (FVII). The duplication was initially diagnosed on methylation‐sensitive multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification. Array comparative genome hybridization confirmed its presence and indicated a 13q34 distal deletion. The patient's clinical symptoms, including developmental delay and facial dysmorphism, were typical of BWS with paternal 11p15 trisomy. Partial 13q monosomy in this patient is associated with moderate deficiency of FVII and may also overlap with a few symptoms of paternal 11p15 trisomy such as developmental delay and some facial features. To our knowledge this is the first report of 11p15.4p15.5 duplication associated with deletion of 13q34 and FVII deficiency. Moreover, this report emphasizes the importance of detailed clinical as well as molecular examinations in patients with BWS features and developmental delay.     

Long‐term outcomes of liver transplantation for hepatoblastoma: A single‐center 14‐year experience

HB is the most common primary liver tumor in children. Complete tumor excision, either by partial resection or by total hepatectomy and liver transplantation, in combination with chemotherapy provides the best chance for cure. We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent liver transplantation for HB and herein present our 14‐year single‐institution experience. Twenty‐five patients underwent liver transplantation for HB at a median age of 26 months (IQR: 15‐44). Graft survival was 96%, 87%, and 80% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. There were four patient deaths, three of them due to disease recurrence within the first year post‐transplant. Ten‐year overall survival was 84%. Three recipients initially presented with pulmonary metastases and underwent resection of metastatic disease, of which two are alive at 3.9 years. Of three patients who underwent salvage transplants, two are alive at 1.5 years after transplant. Non‐survivors were associated with lower median alpha fetoprotein value at presentation compared to survivors (21 707 vs 343 214; P = .04). In conclusion, the overall long‐term outcome of primary liver transplantation for HB is excellent. Tumor recurrence was the highest contributor to mortality. Even patients with completely treated pulmonary metastases prior to transplant demonstrated a favorable survival.     

Pediatric patient with end‐stage kidney disease secondary to Eagle‐Barrett syndrome and metastatic unresectable hepatoblastoma treated successfully with chemotherapy and liver‐kidney transplant

HBL is the most common malignant liver neoplasm in children. The etiology of HBL is largely unknown but there are certain syndromes, such as Beckwith‐Wiedemann syndrome, that have been clearly associated with an increased incidence of this malignancy. EBS, also known as prune belly syndrome, is a congenital anomaly characterized by lax abdominal musculature, bilateral cryptorchidism requiring, in some cases, hemodialysis due to significant kidney and urinary tract dysfunctions. Despite an improvement on the survival rates of patients with advanced‐stage HBL, the presence of concomitant end‐stage renal disease that occurs in patients with EBS constitutes a therapeutic challenge for the clinician not only due to the use of nephrotoxic chemotherapy but also due to the potential need for multi‐organ transplant. We report case of a 2‐year‐old male patient with EBS diagnosed with stage IV, metastatic HBL successfully treated with multi‐agent chemotherapy while on dialysis whom then underwent a simultaneous liver‐kidney transplant followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. Ultimately, the patient achieved cancer remission with normalization of his renal function. Our report emphasizes that patients with HBL in the setting of EBS will not only require careful kidney function monitoring while receiving chemotherapy, but they might also need to undergo multi‐organ transplantation in order to achieve adequate cancer control and also normalization of their kidney function. Awareness of this unusual association calls for further investigation to potentially establish a genetic association between these two disease processes.