michael weintraub, m.d. hadassah university hospital jerusalem, israel pediatric soft tissue...

Michael Weintraub, M.D.

Hadassah University Hospital

Jerusalem, Israel

Pediatric Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Cancer Types in Children

• Leukemia• CNS tumors• Lymphoma – Hodgkin’s & non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma• Neuroblastoma• Wilms’ tumor• Sarcoma – Bone (Ewing, osteosarcoma) Soft-tissue –Rhabdomyosarcoma, NRSTS

• Retinoblastoma• Hepatic tumors• Germ cell tumors

Major Cancer Types in Children

• Leukemia • (CNS tumors)• Lymphoma – Hodgkin’s & non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma• (Neuroblastoma)• Wilms’ tumor• Sarcoma – Bone (Ewing, osteosarcoma) Soft-tissue –Rhabdomyosarcoma, NRSTS

• Retinoblastoma• (Hepatic tumors)• (Germ cell tumors)

Nomenclature of Tumors

• Tumors are named after their cell of origin

and the embryonal layer that cell arose from

• The middle embryonal layer – the mesoderm-

gives rise to mesenchymal tissues- bone,

muscle, cartilage, adipose tissue, blood

vessels and more

• Mesenchymal tumors are called sarcomas

Mesenchymal tumors

• Tumors of bone (Osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma)

• Tumors of soft tissues (Soft tissue sarcomas=STS)

Tumors of skeletal muscle (Rhabdomyosarcoma)

Tumors of smooth muscle (Leiomyosarcoma) Tumors of adipose tissue (Liposarcoma) Tumors of fibroblasts (Fibrosarcoma) Tumors of cartilage (Chondrosarcoma, synovial sarcoma) Tumors of blood vessels (Angiosarcoma) MPNST, clear cell sarcoma, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor,

desmoid (fibromatosis), DSRCT, MFH

Pediatric soft tissue sarcomas

• The most common form of soft-tissue sarcoma in childhood is rhabdomyosarcoma (50% of all STS)

• For convenience – all other soft-tissue sarcomas of childhood are called non-rhabdo soft tissue sarcomas (NRSTS) – and account for the remaining 50% of STS

Rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma

• A tumor which arises from immature mesenchymal cells committed to skeletal muscle lineage

• RMS can arise in multiple organs giving rise to a wide spectrum of clinical presentations, therapeutic approaches and prognoses

• Some of these organs (e.g. – bladder) do not normally contain skeletal muscle

Rhabdomyosarcoma - Epidemiology

• Most common type of soft tissue sarcoma in children

• 3.5% of childhood cancer

• Incidence: 4.3/1,000,000 per year USA ~ 350 new cases/year; Ethiopia? ~ 150? Less? (Lower

incidence of RMS in African-American girls and in Southeast Asia)

• 2/3 of cases occur in children < 6 years of age

• Genetic associations

Cancer Types by Age GroupTumor Type Ages 0-14 Ages 15-19

Leukemia 28% 10%

CNS 22% 10%

Neuroblastoma 8% 0.2%

NHL 6% 8%

Hodgkin’s 3.6% 16.8%

Wilm’s tumor 6% 0.3%

Rhabdomyosarcoma 3.6% 1.7%

NRSTS 3.5% 5.1%

Osteosarcoma 2.6% 4.2%

Ewing sarcoma 1.5% 2.4%

Germ cell/gonadal 3.5% 12.4%

Retinoblastoma 3.2% 0%

Hepatoblastoma 1.3% 0%

Thyroid 1.1% 7.3%

Melanoma 1.1% 7.6%

Rhabdomyosarcoma - Epidemiology

• Most common type of soft tissue sarcoma in children

• 3.5% of childhood cancer

• Incidence: 4.3/1,000,000 per year USA ~ 350 new cases/year; Ethiopia? ~ 150? Less? (Lower

incidence of RMS in African-American girls and in Southeast Asia)

• 2/3 of cases occur in children < 6 years of age

• Genetic associations

Genetics of Childhood cancer

Cancer – Pathogenesis I

• Cancer is caused by the occurrence in a single, initial cell - of multiple genetic changes - “hits”- aberrations

• The genetic aberrations that lead to the transformation of a normal cell into a cancer (malignant) cell involve genes which regulate cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis (Proto-oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes)

• When a sufficient number of genetic “hits” have occurred in a single cell - that cell will have acquired the capacity to proliferate and metastasize – the “cancer cell”

Cancer – Pathogenesis - II

• In most human cancers, the changes in genes that control cell proliferation are not inherited but acquired (somatic changes)

• It is estimated that in order for a cell to transform into a cancer cell, changes must occur in 7-10 different genes

• For a single cell to accumulate a sufficient number of mutations takes time, and thus cancer is largely a disease of

old age

Cancer – Pathogenesis - III

• If an individual inherits a mutation in one of the genes that control cell proliferation, than all the cells in that individual’s body have taken the first step in the path of malignant transformation

• The cells in the bodies of these individuals have a “head start” on the malignant process: They have a higher risk of developing tumors, and develop tumors at an earlier age

• The group of diseases in which individuals carry inherited/germline mutations in cancer genes are called cancer predisposition syndromes

Cancer predisposition syndromes (CPS)

• In individuals with CPS only a very small fraction of the total cells in their body (or at risk organs) become neoplastic because other (somatic) mutations are required to develop a clinically detectable lesion (cancer phenotype)

• Individuals with CPS often develop multiple tumors that occur at an earlier age than in individuals whose cancer gene mutations have all occurred somatically (The head start)

• The tumor types are site specific (not all cancers are increased) – depending on the nature of the genetic “hit”

• Not all individuals with CPS will develop tumors – in fact – in many CPS – most will not (Down syndrome vs. RB)

The role of heredity in childhood cancer

• Most cancer cases in children do not have a hereditary basis

- Leukemia – 2%– Brain tumors – 1-3%

– Wilm’s tumor – 3-5%

– Retinoblastoma – 40%

– Optic gliomas – 45%

– Adrenocortical Carcinoma – 50-80%

However – the exceptions are instructive

RMS in Cancer Predisposition syndromes

Syndrome Cancer Types

Beckwith-Wiedemann Wilms (60%, 20% bilateral), RMS, HB, NB, ACC, Gonadoblastoma; (7.5 % of patients develop cancer by age 8)

Li-Fraumeni RMS, OS, glioma, Breast, Adrenal, leukemia

50% cancer incidence by age 30 (cf. 1% in general population)

Costello syndrome RMS

Rhabdomyosarcoma- Clinical Presentations

RhabdomyosarcomaSites of disease

Head & Neck Orbit Parameningeal Non-Parameningeal

Genitourinary Bladder Prostate Para-testicular Vagina/uterus

Extremity

Others

RMS – Clinical Presentation is Site Dependent

• Orbit - Proptosis, ophthalmoplegia

• Other head and neck/parameningeal – nasal or aural obstruction, cranial nerve palsies

• Genitourinary tract – Bladder: Hematuria, urinary obstruction Paratesticular – painless scrotal mass Vaginal – Vaginal mass, discharge

• Extremities – Swelling, pain, lymph node involvement

Orbital rhabdomyosarcoma

Extremity RMS

Rhabdomyosarcoma – Approach to Diagnosis and Staging

• Evaluation of primary site – XR, CT, MRI

• Biopsy / surgery

• Metastatic workup – CT chest, bone scan, bone marrow, PET

Rhabdomyosarcoma - Pathology

Two major histologic subtypes:

I. Embryonal RMS (Botryoid and spindle cell variants)

II. Alveolar RMS

Undifferentiated sarcoma

Poorly Differentiated Embryonal RMSPoorly Differentiated Embryonal RMSdifficult to distinguish from other small round blue cell tumors difficult to distinguish from other small round blue cell tumors

Botryoid RMSBotryoid RMS

Alveolar RMSAlveolar RMSSmall round cells floating in a pseudo-alveolar space representing fibrovascular septaeSmall round cells floating in a pseudo-alveolar space representing fibrovascular septae

Small round blue cell tumors

• Lymphoma

• Neuroblastoma

• Rhabdomyosarcoma

• Ewing/PNET

• Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSCRT)

• Poorly differentiated synovial sarcoma

• Small cell osteosarcoma

Small round blue cell tumors

• Immunohistochemistry

• Electron microscopy

• Cytogenetics/Molecular Biology

Small round blue cell tumorsImmunohistochemistry

Tumor Immunohistochemical markers

Ewing / ESFT PAS+ (Glycogen); NSE (Neuron specific enolase); CD99; Fli1

Rhabdomyosarcoma Desmin, myosin, MyoD

Lymphoma LCA=Leukocyte common antigen=CD45

specific markers

CD30-HD,ALCL; CD20-B cell;

CD3-T cell; TdT

Neuroblastoma NSE; S100

Small round blue cell tumors

• Immunohistochemistry

• Electron microscopy – features of muscle differentiation -= actin-myosin bundles, z-bands

• Cytogenetics/Molecular biology

Cytogenetics in Pediatric Solid tumors

Tumor Cytogenetics Affected genesEmbryonal rhabdomyosarcoma

LOH 11p15 IGF-II

Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma t(2;13)(q35;q14)

t(1;13)(p36;q14)

PAX3-FKHR

PAX7-FKHR

Neuroblastoma 1p36;17q; HSR;DM ?;?; N-myc

Ewing sarcoma-PNET t(11;22)(q24;q12)

t(21;22)(q22;q12)

EWS-FLI1

EWS -ERG

Malignant melanoma of soft parts

t(12;22)(q13;q12) EWS-ATF1

Desmoplastic small round-cell tumor

t(11;22)(p13;q11-12) EWS-WT1

Synovial sarcoma t(X;18)(p11.2;q11.2) SYT-SSX-1+2

Congenital fibrosarcoma and mesoblastic nephroma

t(12;15)(p13;q25) ETV6-NTRK3

Rhabdomyosarcoma – Approach to Diagnosis and Staging

• Evaluation of primary site – XR, CT, MRI

• Biopsy / surgery

• Metastatic workup – CXR/CT chest, bone scan, bone marrow, PET

Staging

• A process that defines the local and distant (metastatic) extent of a tumor

• Tumors have unique and consistent patterns of spread Wilms’ tumor to lungs and liver (not to bone or bone marrow) Neuroblastoma – bones, bone marrow, lymph, (not to lungs)

• Stage is associated with prognosis (metastatic disease is rarely curable)

Wilms’ tumor - StagingStage

I Tumor confined to the kidney and completely resected. No penetration of renal capsule or sinus vessels.

II Tumor extends beyond kidney but completely resected; a) penetration of renal capsule b) invasion of renal sinus c) biopsy d) local spillage during removal

III Gross or microscopic residual (including gross spillage, positive margins, regional lymph nodes –renal hilar, para-aortic, or beyond, peritoneal implants, spillage beyond flank)

IV Metastatic disease outside abdomen (lungs, liver)

V Bilateral Wilms’ tumors

Rhabdomyosarcoma – Evaluation of disease extent

• Extent of disease in primary site – CT, MRI, PET

• Metastatic disease – Lungs, bones, lymph nodes

• Stage

• Clinical group (site and extent of resection)

Stage  

Sites of Primary Tumor 

Tumor Size 

Regional Lymph Nodes 

Distant Metastasis 

1 Favorable sites Any size N0, or N1, or NXM0

2 Unfavorable sites T1a or T2a N0 or NXM0

3 Unfavorable sites T1a, T2a, or T1b, T2b

N1N0 or N1 or NX M0

4 Any site Any size N0 or N1M1

Group 

Definition 

I  [Note: Approximately 13%] A localized tumor completely removed with pathologically clear margins and no regional lymph

node involvement.

II  [Note: Approximately 20% ] A localized tumor that is grossly removed with: (A) microscopic disease at the margin, (B) involved,

grossly removed regional lymph nodes, or (C) both A and B.

III  [Note: Approximately 48% ] A localized tumor with gross residual disease after incomplete removal or biopsy only.

IV  [Note: Approximately 18% ] Distant metastases are present at diagnosis.

Risk Group Histology  Stage  Group 

Low Risk Embryonal

Embryonal

1

2, 3

I, II, III

I, II

Intermediate Risk Embryonal

Alveolar

2, 3

1, 2, 3

III

I, II, III

High Risk Embryonal or Alveolar 4 IV

Rhabdomyosarcoma - Treatment

• Local control – Surgery vs. Radiation

• Systemic therapy – Chemotherapy

• Pediatric sarcomas are systemic illnesses

Rhabdomyosarcoma – Local Rx

• Local control options: Surgery and radiation therapy

• The approach to local control of RMS depends on the site of origin

• RMS tends to occur is sites that are surgically challenging where attempts at radical resections may lead to mutilating surgery as well as inadequate surgical margins

• Use of radiation therapy is an important local control modality

Rhabdomyosarcoma – Surgery

• Surgery in RMS is used with the aim of achieving complete resections with clear margins

• Potentially relevant disease sites: Vagina, paratesticular, non-parameningeal, non-orbit head & neck, extremity

• However – many children with RMS have tumors that cannot be excised or attempts at resection will lead to mutilation and loss of function (orbit, parameningeal, bladder)

• Consider radiaiton

• Late effects of radiation on young tissues

Rhabdomyosarcoma – Radiation Therapy

• Required doses ~ 40-50 Gy

• Essential in non –resectable cases and where surgical margins are inadequate (orbit, parameningeal, bladder)

• Tissue tolerance

• Late effects of radiation on young tissues

Rhabdomyosarcoma –Systemic Therapy

• 20% of patients present with metastatic disease

• Most patients (90%) who present without overt metastatic disease will develop systemic spread if not treated with chemotherapy (micro-metastatic disease)

• All patients must receive systemic therapy

• Active agents – Actinomycin, Cyclophosphamide/ifosfamide, vincristine,

Doxorubicin, VP-16, topotecan/irinotecan

Rhabdomyosarcoma – Treatment- COG

VCR / Actinomycin D / Cyclophosphamide

3 Wk 3 wk 3 wk Local Rx.(Surg/XRT)Cycle 1 ↔ 2 ↔ 3 ↔ 4…………14………40

V VA AC C

Vincristine – 2 mg/M2/courseActinomycin – 1.5 mg/M2/course Cyclophosphamide – 1200 mg/M2/course

Pediatric Cancer as a Systemic Illness – The rule and the exceptions

• THE RULE- Pediatric solid tumors are always systemic – micrometastatic disease is present at diagnosis in the majority of patients

• All patients – including those with apparently localized disease - must be treated with chemotherapy

• Osteosarcoma, Ewing, RMS

Pediatric Cancer as a Systemic Illness – The rule and the exceptions

• The exceptions: Tumors in which cure can be achieved with surgery alone

• Unilateral Retinoblastoma• Stage I gonadal germ cell tumors• Stage I-II hepatoblastoma• Stage I – small – Wilms’ tumor• Stage I neuroblastoma• Supra-tentorial ependymomas• Low grade gliomas

Rhabdomyosarcoma - Outcome

• With the combination of local and systemic therapy – 50-70% of patients are cured

• Prognostic factors:– Metastatic disease 10-20% (Lung > bone)

– Sites – favorable (orbit – 90%), unfavorable (extremity-60%)

– Histology: embryonal> alveolar

Rhabdomyosarcoma – Treatment of High Risk patients

• Dose intensification – Alkylators

• Additional agents – doxorubicin, topotecan, irinotecan, ifosfamide, vinorelbine

• High dose chemotherapy with stem-cell rescue

• To date – none of these interventions have improved outcome

Rhabdomyosarcoma – Summary

• RMS is the most common soft tissue sarcoma of childhood

• RMS can occur at multiple sites resulting in a wide spectrum of clinical presentations:

• The most common sites are 1) head and neck - including orbit and parameningeal, 2) genitourinary, including bladder, vagina and paratesticular 3) Extremities

Rhabdomyosarcoma – Summary -2

• The diagnosis of RMS is made by a combination of clinical presentation, radiology and pathology

• The treatment of RMS is site specific

• Treatment of RMS must include a local component aimed at the primary tumor (surgery and/or radiation) and a systemic component (chemotherapy) aimed at micro-metastatic disease

• For most children with RMS a combination of vincristine, actinomycin and cyclophosphamide is the best current therapy

Thank you

Rhabdomyosarcoma – Long term Sequelae

• Site and treatment modality dependent

• Fertility – High doses of alkylating agents

• Cardiotoxicity – High doses of anthracyclines

• Second malignancies – AML (Topoisomerase+alkylators – 8-10%)Radiation field sarcomas (~5%)

Risk-Adapted Therapy

• Maximize benefit / Minimize risk

• Patients with good-risk features and high cure rates – maintain good outcome, minimize toxicity (orbital, vaginal RMS)

• Patients with poor-risk features and low cure rates – intensify therapy (extremity and metastatic RMS), consider interventions to reduce long term toxicity