多学科联合诊治神经母细胞瘤91例临床特征及近期疗效分析

目的 总结91例神经母细胞瘤(NB)患儿的临床特征,分析NB患儿年龄、临床分期(INSS)、病理类型和N-myc基因拷贝数与近期疗效的关系,探讨多学科联合模式治疗NB的意义,为规范化治疗NB、提高NB患儿生存率和生存质量提供依据.方法 回顾性分析2007年4月至2011年3月在首都医科大学附属北京儿童医院肿瘤内科诊治的所有NB患儿,随访至2012年5月31日.诊断标准、INSS分期、治疗和疗效标准均根据北京儿童医院NB方案(BCH-NB-2007方案).将患儿分为低危(LR)组、中危(MR)组和高危(HR)组,进行分层治疗.结果 资料完整的NB患儿共91例,其中男59例,女32例;中位年龄37个月(4.5 ～ 192.0个月);INSS-Ⅲ10例、Ⅳ69例.原发瘤灶位于后纵隔35例,腹膜后肾上腺或盆腔区域56例.骨髓转移53例(58.2％),肿瘤细胞数4.5％～ 100.0％(常规的骨髓细胞学检查和NB细胞分类);骨骼转移56例(61.5％),7例为单发骨转移,其余均为多发骨转移;远处淋巴结转移21例(23.0％);内脏转移15例,其中肝脏13例(14.3％);中枢转移5例,转移率为5.5％.72例患儿病理结果:NB或NB化疗后改变45例,神经节母细胞瘤26例和神经节细胞瘤1例.58例患儿N-myc基因拷贝数为5.96±7.81,其中N-myc基因扩增4例.共治疗70例,其中7例LR中,2例Ⅳs期,随访51～53个月,目前均为部分缓解.1例患儿放弃治疗,其余4例均处于完全缓解状态.11例MR患儿中,除1例失访外,5例患儿为完全缓解状态,中位随访时间31个月.52例HR患儿,中位随访时间33个月(4～60个月),22例患儿发生事件(42.3％),其中5例分别于停化疗后8、12、20、29和40个月复发,15例患儿治疗中出现肿瘤进展,其余2例并发严重感染,临终放弃.Kaplan-Meier分析70例患儿的生存率,显示预计5年生存率为64.3％,其中HR患儿生存率为55.8％.结论 NB起病隐匿,最常转移的部位是骨骼和骨髓.广泛转移者预后差.高危NB治疗难度大,强化疗为主的多学科联合治疗方案是获得长期无病生存的关键.N-myc基因扩增与不良预后有密切关系.另外,NB患儿停止治疗3～5年需定期随访,如果发现可疑残留病灶,给予间断小加强化疗可能为提高生存率的有效措施.     

伴头面部软组织转移神经母细胞瘤患儿临床特征及近期疗效分析——单中心10年诊治总结

目的总结伴头面部软组织转移神经母细胞瘤(NB)患儿的临床特点,分析其近期疗效。方法连续纳入首都医科大学附属北京儿童医院血液中心2007年3月-2017年5月收治的伴头面部软组织转移NB患儿,回顾性分析临床表现、实验室检查、影像学检查等临床特征,评价近期疗效,分析比较同期不伴有头面部软组织侵犯的高危NB患儿的生存率。随访至2018年4月30日。结果 39例符合入组标准,占同期诊断诊治患儿的6. 5%(39/601)。其中男30例,女9例,中位发病年龄31. 5(5～132)个月。其中26例眶周软组织转移、8例额颞部软组织转移、6例鼻咽部软组织转移、6例颌面部软组织转移、5例头皮软组织转移。首发症状为头面部肿物者15例(38%)、发热9例(23%)、肢体疼痛9例(23%)、腹痛4例(10%)、乏力3例(8%)、面色苍白3例(8%)、腹部包块2例(5%)、颈部包块2例(5%)、打鼾1例(3%)。原发瘤灶为腹膜后来源者18例、肾上腺来源者17例、后纵隔来源者3例、颅底来源者1例。INSS分期:IV期38例、IVs期1例。危险度分组:高危(HR)37例、中危(MR)1例、低危(LR)1例。伴N-myc基因扩增者16例(41%)。初诊时所有患儿血清乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)及血清神经元烯醇化酶(NSE)均高于正常范围,其中血清LDH大于1000U/L者占54%,血清NSE大于检测上限(370ng/mL)者占51%。所有患儿均存在3个及以上部位的转移,除1例IVs期患儿外,均存在骨骼转移(97%),且均为多发骨转移,33例(85%)伴有骨髓转移。1例LR(IVs期)给予手术联合化疗(CBVP及CADO方案交替进行,共4疗程),随访1年,目前完全缓解(CR)。1例MR患儿给予化疗联合手术治疗,随访2. 3年,目前CR。37例HR患儿给予化疗联合手术、自体外周血造血干细胞移植和13-顺式维A酸维持治疗,中位随访时间13(4～126)个月;9例目前CR,1例随诊5年后失访,6例停药后复发,21治疗中进展,中位进展时间8(4～15)个月。5年EFS 13%,5年OS 14%。同期收治的不伴头面部软组织转移的高危NB患儿5年EFS43%,5年OS45%。结论头面部软组织转移为NB患儿全身广泛转移的表现之一,85%的患儿同时伴有骨骼及骨髓转移,N-myc基因扩增率高。在高危NB患儿中,伴有头面部软组织转移者预后较不伴头面部软组织转移者更差。     

替莫唑胺联合托泊替康治疗儿童难治性/复发神经母细胞瘤6例临床分析

目的观察替莫唑胺(TMZ)联合托泊替康(TOPO)即TOTEM方案治疗儿童难治性/复发神经母细胞瘤(NB)的疗效。方法 6例难治性/复发NB患儿,分别给予替莫唑胺150 mg/(m~2·d),d1-5,口服;托泊替康0.75 mg/(m~2·d),d1-5,静脉点滴,每3周为一个化疗周期,每个患儿共接受8~10个周期的化疗。治疗中监测血常规、肝功、肾功、心脏功能等;每2个化疗周期行CT或MRI等影像学检查,同时结合骨髓受累病例中微小残留检测结果,进行疗效估。结果 6例NB患儿接受共53个周期TOTEM方案化疗,3例患儿临床达到完全缓解,2例患儿为部分缓解,1例患儿因疾病进展,放弃治疗,本组病人平均随诊时间为15个月,随访1年时4例存活。化疗期间不良反应主要表现为:5例出现Ⅲ°~Ⅳ°骨髓抑制,3例出现Ⅱ°~Ⅲ°恶心、呕吐、厌食,但整个治疗中无化疗相关性死亡病例发生。结论难治性/复发NB患儿对TOTEM方案表现较理想的治疗反应和顺应性,但远期疗效尚待进一步观察,可作为目前治疗儿童难治性/复发NB的选择之一。     

儿童神经母细胞瘤骨髓微小残留病变的临床意义分析

目的探讨儿童神经母细胞瘤(NB)患者骨髓微量NB细胞的动态变化及其与临床特征、治疗转归的关系。方法纳入33例确诊为NB并完善骨髓微量NB细胞监测的患儿,采用流式细胞仪(FCM)检测NB患儿治疗前后骨髓微量NB细胞,结合临床数据,进行Mann-Whitney U tests及Fisher精确概率法分析。结果 (1)初诊时骨髓转移与INRG分期、MYCN扩增状态、治疗疗效及是否复发均无显著相关性。(2)转移期患儿的骨髓转移发生率为69%,提示骨髓是NB肿瘤细胞主要转移地点。(3)治疗后骨髓微小残留病灶(MRD)持续阳性或由阴转阳患儿复发可能性大(P 0.001)。结论本研究初诊转移期患儿转移发生率过半,提示NB侵袭性强,骨髓为主要转移器官。监测骨髓MRD有助于早期发现疾病复发,指导临床治疗。     

7例婴儿急性淋巴细胞白血病的临床分析

目的总结我科7例婴儿急性淋巴细胞白血病(ALL)的临床及实验室检查特点,探讨其治疗及预后的相关因素。方法回顾性分析2011年1月—2017年7月徐州市儿童医院血液肿瘤内科收治的7例婴儿ALL的临床表现、实验室检查、治疗及预后。结果 7例婴儿ALL,初诊年龄3～11个月,平均发病年龄5个月。临床表现为贫血、发热、出血、肝脾肿大,其中1例患儿就诊时白细胞大于300×10~9/L。7例骨髓形态学诊断后进一步完善了免疫学、细胞遗传学、分子生物学检查。免疫分型均为B细胞性ALL,其中有5例患儿存在MLL基因重排。2例患儿诊断后放弃治疗,1例在诱导化疗中放弃治疗,其余4例接受治疗的患儿,例2完全缓解(52个月)至今,例1完全缓解31个月后骨髓复发,例3在诱导缓解后因重症肺部感染死亡,例4诱导缓解后行脐血干细胞移植治疗,随访至今完全缓解(14个月)。结论婴儿ALL儿童白血病中罕见,我科该类患儿占同期初诊白血病的2. 0%,临床特征与其他类型白血病不同,7例中仅4例完成诱导化疗并接受后续化疗,1例缓解后复发,1例早期死亡,仅2例无病生存,预后差,复发率高。     

伴染色体17q获得的神经母细胞瘤3例临床分析

目的探讨伴染色体17q获得的神经母细胞瘤(NB)的临床特点及预后。方法回顾性分析我中心同期诊治的3例伴染色体17q获得的NB患儿的临床特征和近期治疗效果。NB患儿的诊断标准、肿瘤分期、临床危险度分组、治疗方案和疗效标准均根据北京儿童医院NB方案(BCH-NB-2007方案)。随访到2012年5月31日。应用FISH方法进行肿瘤组织细胞遗传学检查。结果 3例患儿确诊年龄均>18个月,病程1～6个月。原发瘤灶位于腹膜后或肾上腺,伴广泛转移,如淋巴结、骨髓、多部位骨骼转移等。INSS分期均为Ⅳ期,属高危组。3例患儿的原发瘤灶均存在染色体17q获得,无N-myc基因扩增及染色体1p缺失。均按高危NB方案治疗,1例于治疗5个月出现肿瘤进展,表现为发热、骨痛,放弃治疗。另外2例随访9个月和4个月,未见肿瘤进展或新发瘤灶。结论染色体17q获得的NB临床表现呈高度恶性,广泛转移。染色体17q获得可能与其它临床危险因素共同影响NB预后。     

神经母细胞瘤患儿骨髓PHOX2B基因临床意义探讨

目的 探究神经母细胞瘤(NB)患儿骨髓中PHOX2B基因表达的临床意义。方法 回顾性分析2020年10月—2022年5月我院血液肿瘤科收治的47例新诊断NB患儿的临床资料,病初检测47例NB患儿骨髓PHOX2B mRNA的表达水平。结果 (1)纳入研究的47例NB患儿男26例(55%),女21例(45%);中位发病年龄23.0(0.27-144)个月;INRG临床分期L1期3例(6%)、L2期15例(32%)、M期29例(62%);危险度分组极低危3例(6%)、低危9例(19%)、中危8例(17%)、高危27例(57%);病初存在骨髓转移者(骨髓形态学阳性)20例(43%),骨髓多色流式细胞术(MFC)检测阳性23例(49%),骨髓PHOX2B mRNA表达阳性31例(66%),其中3例体征存在浣熊眼的患儿PHOX2B mRNA水平均显著增高,与内参基因ABL比值分别为58%、75%、117%。(2)PHOX2B阳性组与阴性组在各种首发临床表现方面均无差异(P均>0.05);(3)PHOX2B mRNA表达水平与初诊时的骨髓细胞形态学、MFC计数结果、初诊血NSE值、初诊血LDH...     

高危神经母细胞瘤患儿外周血自体干细胞移植后早期进展的临床分析

目的 总结高危神经母细胞瘤(high risk neuroblastoma,HR-NB)患儿,经过外周血自体干细胞移植后2个月内即发生肿瘤进展的情况,分析HR-NB患儿自体干细胞采集、回输的经验和教训,从而为提高自体干细胞移植治疗NB的疗效提供依据.方法 回顾性分析在我院确诊并且规范应用HR-NB方案(BCH-NB-2007-HR)治疗的6例患儿,经过自体干细胞移植后2个月内出现肿瘤进展者.分析指标主要包括诊断初原发瘤灶、转移瘤灶部位、肿瘤生物因子、病理类型、N-myc基因是否扩增、联合化疗和原发瘤灶切除的综合治疗情况,自体干细胞回输数量和时间、以及回输后肿瘤进展时间和部位等情况.结果 6例患儿中男女各3例,平均年龄35个月(24~58个月).5例肿瘤均原发于腹膜后肾上腺区,1例左上后纵膈.6例患儿均同时伴有骨髓转移和多发骨骼转移,骨骼转移部位包括肱骨、股骨、髂骨和腰椎同时伴有其他部位转移:3例肝脏转移,3例远处淋巴结转移,1例肾脏转移.2例患儿化疗前肿瘤组织病理为NB分化差型,4例为化疗后肿瘤组织病理,分别为2例NB分化型和2例节细胞神经母细胞瘤结节型.FISH检测N-myc基因,2例基因扩增,拷贝数分别为30和50.6例患儿均按BCH-NB-2007-HR方案规律化疗,4疗程后原发瘤灶完全切除,7疗程化疗后进行干细胞回输,平均回输后血细胞恢复时间为3周,之后按序予以13-顺式维甲酸维持治疗和原发瘤灶的局部放疗.6例患儿分别于回输后6~10周出现肿瘤进展,5例骨髓复发,2例为头面部和眼眶新发瘤灶,1例为胰腺新发瘤灶,1例为骨骼进展,1例颅内转移.6例患儿中4例放弃治疗后2~3个月死亡,1例再次回输自体干细胞后死于重症感染,1例患儿骨髓复发舒缓治疗中.6例患儿总随访时间为8~16(10.5)个月.结论 高危NB患儿自体干细胞移植后6~10周出现肿瘤进展,其原因可能与肿瘤广泛转移,尤其是肝脏转移以及不良的生物学特性有关.是否与自体干细胞回输质量和数量有关有待于进一步的临床观察.     

婴儿神经母细胞瘤51例诊疗特点及长期随访分析

目的 分析初诊年龄<12月龄神经母细胞瘤（NB）患儿的临床特征、诊疗特点及远期疗效。方法 回顾性分析2008年1月至2018年12月收治的NB患儿的临床资料,总结其临床特点及预后影响因素。结果 51例NB患儿中,男34例、女17例,中位诊断年龄7.5(3.8～10.1)月龄,腹部肿块（27例,52.9%）是最常见的就诊原因。原发部位主要为肾上腺（21例,41.1%）及后腹膜（19例,37.2%）,骨髓、肝脏及骨是最常见的转移部位。MYCN基因扩增频率为11.3%(5/44)。49例患儿行手术治疗,其中8例单纯手术治疗,13例化疗后行手术治疗,28例化疗前行手术治疗;1例仅行化疗,1例随访观察。中位随访时间为78.5(72.1～124.0)月龄,共49例无事件生存,2例死亡。6年总体生存率和6年无事件生存率均为（96.1±2.7）%。单因素分析提示肿瘤分期、远处转移、骨髓转移、骨转移、危险度分组、MYCN基因扩增、初诊时血清神经元特异性烯醇化酶和乳酸脱氢酶水平是影响预后的因素（P<0.05）。结论 婴儿NB患者长期预后好,无MYCN基因扩增的患儿有望进一步降低化疗强度。     

伴有MYCN基因扩增的神经母细胞瘤133例病例系列报告

背景：伴有MYCN基因扩增的神经母细胞瘤（NB）患儿的长期生存率不容乐观,目前国内相关大宗病例报道不多。 目的：总结伴有MYCN基因扩增的NB患儿的临床特征、治疗效果及预后相关因素。 设计：病例系列报告。 方法：纳入2007年2月1日至2020年1月30日首都医科大学附属北京儿童医院血液肿瘤中心确诊NB且经荧光原位杂交法确定伴有MYCN扩增的患儿,分析患儿瘤灶部位、大小、转移部位、肿瘤标记物、病理亚型、治疗情况及影响预后的相关因素。 主要结局指标：3年生存影响因素。 结果：纳入133例MYCN扩增的NB患儿,占同期收治总NB患儿的12.0%。男82例,女51例,中位发病年龄（35.7±9.8）个月;原发瘤灶位于腹膜后及肾上腺区129例（97.0%）,位于后纵隔区域4例（3.0%）;骨髓转移81例（60.9%）,骨骼转移80例（60.2%）,中枢转移24例（18.1%）;99例（74.4%）血清LDH≥1 500 U·L-1,126例（94.7%）神经元特异性烯醇化酶≥100 ng·mL-1;原发瘤灶最大直径≥10 cm者89例（66.9%）。3年OS和EFS分别为（19.7±3.5）%和（19.0±3.6）%。78例进展复发,在诱导、巩固、维持及停药后进展复发分别为8、20、46和4例,进展复发的部位以原发瘤灶、骨髓、中枢神经系统及骨骼最常见,中位首次进展时间为11.3月。伴有骨髓、骨转移、合并1p36缺失、年龄＜18月及未行自体外周血造血干细胞移植患儿预后不良。 结论：伴有MYCN扩增的NB患儿原发瘤灶以腹膜后肾上腺区为主,早期远处转移率高,50%以上患儿在维持治疗期间肿瘤进展,3年OS仅为19.7%。伴有MYCN扩增的NB患儿迫切需要靶向治疗等新的治疗手段,以提高疗效,改善预后。     

Liver involvement in neuroblastoma: the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Experience supports treatment reduction in young patients

BACKGROUND: We reviewed clinical and biologic findings in a series of infants with neuroblastoma (NB) in liver. The aim was to gain insights into improving therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among 19 newly or recently diagnosed infants with NB in liver, 1987-2002, those with stage 4 involving bone received chemotherapy, while those without bone or extensive bone marrow (BM) involvement were observed or received limited treatment if NB caused life-threatening symptoms. We assessed results in the context of NB treatment risk stratification, which is based on age, stage, and selected biologic features (MYCN, ploidy, histology). RESULTS: Six of eight infants with bone involvement became long-term event-free survivors including 1/2 with MYCN amplification and four who received only 4-6 cycles of chemotherapy; at the end of treatment, four infants had abnormalities in liver +/- the primary site, but these resolved. All 11 infants without bone lesions became long-term survivors with either no cytotoxic therapy or only one cycle of chemotherapy (+/- radiotherapy to liver), including four who had stage 4 and one stage 4S patient who still had NB in BM at age 15 months. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment reduction should be considered for subsets of infants with non-MYCN-amplified widespread NB: stage 4 without bone or extensive BM involvement may not require cytotoxic therapy, stage 4S with symptomatic hepatomegaly may not require multiple cycles of chemotherapy, and classic stage 4 may do well with limited chemotherapy. Persistent liver abnormalities post-treatment may not require continued therapy to achieve a radiologic complete remission.     

神经母细胞瘤并骨转移患儿临床特征及预后相关因素的单中心分析CSCD

目的分析伴骨转移神经母细胞瘤(neuroblastoma,NB)患儿的临床特征及预后相关因素,总结临床诊疗经验,以提高伴骨转移NB患儿的生存率。方法以2013年12月至2020年12月重庆医科大学附属儿童医院肿瘤外科收治的伴骨转移NB患儿为研究对象,收集并总结患儿临床资料及预后情况。随访时间截至2021年3月31日。结果共收集97例NB患儿,男68例,女29例,男女比例为2.4∶1;中位年龄为49.4个月。首发症状:发热47例(48.5%),骨痛38例(39.2%),腹痛或腹胀29例(29.9%),咳嗽15例(15.5%);伴骨转移的NB患儿存在多类骨转移(62.9%),且合并骨髓转移(73.2%),整体预后差,1年生存率为93.6%,5年生存率仅20.2%。经生存分析发现,女性、伴多类骨转移、肿瘤位于腹部、首诊时LDH测定值大于660 U/L以及术中肿瘤残留是预后不佳的影响因素,其中手术切除范围是独立预后影响因素。结论伴骨转移的NB患儿临床表现多样,其预后受诸多因素影响,肿瘤复发或进展是主要的致死原因。对于此类患儿,建议术中尽可能完全切除肿瘤,以改善预后。     

神经母细胞瘤并骨转移患儿临床特征及预后相关因素的单中心分析

目的 分析伴骨转移神经母细胞瘤(neuroblastoma,NB)患儿的临床特征及预后相关因素,总结临床诊疗经验,以提高伴骨转移NB患儿的生存率.方法 以2013年12月至2020年12月重庆医科大学附属儿童医院肿瘤外科收治的伴骨转移NB患儿为研究对象,收集并总结患儿临床资料及预后情况.随访时间截至2021年3月31日...     

Results of the LMT81 protocol, a modified LSA2L2 protocol with high dose methotrexate, on 84 children with non-B-cell (lymphoblastic) lymphoma.

From May 1981 to June 1989, 84 children with non-B-cell lymphoma (82 lymphoblastic, 1 T-cell immunoblastic, 1 unclassified diffuse lymphoma) were treated in the pediatric department of the Institut Gustave Roussy according to a protocol called LMT81, which was derived from the LSA2L2 protocol of Wollner and modified by the adjunction of 10 courses of high dose methotrexate to improve the CNS prophylaxis. No planned irradiation was performed except in cases of initial tests (2 patients) or CNS (5 patients) involvement and residual mass (2 patients). Sixty patients had mediastinal involvement; for the others, primaries were in the head and neck (7), nodes (2), (sub)cutaneous (4), bone (7), and elsewhere (2). According to Murphy's staging system, there were 2 stage I, 6 stage II, 33 stage III, and 43 stage IV. Among the stage IV patients, 41 had bone marrow involvement, 24 of them with more than 25% blast cells in bone marrow and 19 with blast cells in blood; 7 had CNS involvement. Three patients did not achieve complete remission, 4 died in remission (two measles, one post-transfusion AIDS, one unexplained definitive aplasia) and 13 relapsed at 2 to 29 months (median-13 months). Among the 77 patients without initial CNS involvement, there was only one isolated CNS relapse. With a median follow-up of 57 months (10-106 months), the event-free survival is 75% (SE 2.5) for the 84 patients with a plateau at 29 months, 73% (SE 8) for stage I and II patients, 79% (SE 4) for stage III, and 72% (SE 4) for stage IV patients. Survival was similar in each stage group. Reasons for failure of treatment, however, were different, being toxic deaths in stage II; initial therapy resistance, early relapses, and toxic deaths in stage III; and tumor failures in stage IV. In conclusion, this protocol is efficacious on T and non-T, non-B childhood lymphoma with a low incidence of CNS relapse. A future study will seek to diminish toxicity and long-term sequellae while at least maintaining the same cure rate of patients.     

Successful autologous bone marrow transplant for relapsed Ki-1 lymphoma

We report on a 16 year old girl with relapsed Ki-1 lymphoma and a very poor prognosis. The initial manifestation was multiple bone metastases and lymphadenopathy. The patient achieved remission with modified adriamycin, bleomycin, vincristine, daunomycine therapy. However, 14 months after the completion of therapy, relapse occurred in a new cervical lymph node on the left side. After preparation with chemotherapy and total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) the patient underwent autologous bone marrow transplantation (A-BMT). Ki-1 lymphoma shows clinically diverse symptoms, but hematopoietic stem cell transplantation should be performed in relapsed cases. It may be effective to give TLI followed by A-BMT for patients such as ours who have lymph node involvement without bone marrow metastasis.     

儿童间变型大细胞性非霍奇金淋巴瘤8例临床特点及治疗

目的间变型大细胞性淋巴瘤(ALCL)是儿童非霍奇金淋巴瘤(NHL)中较少见的类型。对我院收治8例患儿的临床表现及治疗转归作初步探讨。方法ALCL患儿均经肿瘤组织病理形态、免疫酶标等确诊并联合化疗,随访4～52个月。结果8例ALCL患儿中7例完全缓解(CR),1例部分缓解(PR),1例死亡,3例复发,再次缓解后加用长春花碱(VBL)治疗,均持续缓解。结论ALCL发病率不高,临床以皮肤肿块多见,T细胞型为主,治疗缓解率高,但复发率也高,按B-NHL的方案治疗可取得良好的效果,加用长春花碱维持治疗效果好。     

Results of the LMT81 protocol,a modified LSA2L2 protocol with high dose methotrexate,on 84 children with non-B-cell (lymphoblastic) lymphoma

From May 1981 to June 1989, 84 children with non-B-cell lymphoma (82 lymphoblastic, 1 T-cell immunoblastic, 1 unclassified diffuse lymphoma) were treated in the pediatric department of the Institut Gustave Roussy according to a protocol called LMT81, which was derived from the LSA₂L₂ protocol of Wollner and modified by the adjunction of 10 courses of high dose methotrexate to improve the CNS prophylaxis. No planned irradiation was performed except in cases of initial testis (2 patients) or CNS (5 patients) involvement and residual mass (2 patients). Sixty patients had mediastinal involvement; for the others, primaries were in the head and neck (7), nodes (2), (sub)cutaneous (4), bone (7), and elsewhere (2). According to Murphy's staging system, there were 2 stage I, 6 stage II, 33 stage III, and 43 stage IV. Among the stage IV patients, 41 had bone marrow involvement, 24 of them with more than 25% blast cells in bone marrow and 19 with blast cells in blood; 7 hadCNS involvement. Three patients did not achieve complete remission, 4 died in remission (two measles, one post-transfusion AIDS, one unexplained definitive aplasia) and 13 relapsed at 2 to 29 months (median-13 months). Among the 77 patients without initial CNS involvement, there was only one isolated CNS relapse. With a median follow-up of 57 months (10-106 months), the event-free survival is 75% (SE 2.5) for the 84 patients with a plateau at 29 months, 73% (SE 8) for stage I and II patients, 79% (SE 4) for stage III, and 72% (SE 4) for stage IV patients. Survival was similar in each stage group. Reasons for failure of treatment, however, were different, being toxic deaths in stage II; initial therapy resistance, early relapses, and toxic deaths in stage III; and tumor failures in stage IV. In conclusion, this protocol is efficacious on T and non-T, non-B childhood lymphoma with a low incidence of CNS relapse. A future study will seek to diminish toxicity and long-term sequellae while at least maintaining the same cure rate of patients.     

Treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia with intermediate-dose cytosine arabinoside and adriamycin

Eight pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were treated with intermediate-dose cytosine arabinoside (ID-AraC, 1 g/m2) in combination with adriamycin except one patient. Of the eight patients, four refractory to the initial induction therapy and one in bone marrow relapse gained complete remission with two to three cycles of this therapy. Four of the five patients have been in continuous remission for 4 to 24 months with the maintenance therapy of monthly administration of ID-AraC. One patient in central nervous system (CNS) relapse has continued in remission from CNS leukemia after two cycles of the therapy. Side effects of ID-AraC and adriamycin were generally mild to moderate and tolerable in all children. These results suggest that the use of ID-AraC and adriamycin might prove effective in the treatment of ALL refractory to other regimens.     

Isolated central nervous system relapse of testicular cancer

Central nervous system involvement with testicular cancer usually occurs with advanced systemic disease. Isolated CNS disease at relapse is rare. We report a patient who developed a solitary brain metastasis with no other systemic disease after having achieved a complete response to frontline therapy. After combined modality therapy for the CNS disease, the patient has remained disease-free for more than 3 years. The literature regarding brain metastases in relapsed testicular cancer is reviewed, including nine cases of isolated brain metastases. The CNS can be a “sanctuary” site for testicular cancer, and in the unusual subset of patients with isolated brain relapse, long-term remission is possible with aggressive therapy.