Mandeville HC, Bisogno G, Minard-Colin V, Alaggio R, Ben-Arush M, Chargari C, Coppadoro B, Craigie R, Devalck C, Ferman S, Ferrari A, Glosli H, Alvaro RH, Hol M, Mudry P, Orbach D, Albiac MR, Merks JHM, Jenney MEM.Cancer. 2024 Jul 26. doi: 10.1002/cncr.35497. Online ahead of print.PMID: 39058728
This study evaluated a treatment approach for children and young adults with a specific type of soft tissue cancer, nonalveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (NA-RMS), which is considered standard risk and has not spread to lymph nodes. The researchers tested a reduced dose of a type of chemotherapy (alkylators) combined with radiotherapy to see if it could effectively treat the cancer while minimizing side effects.
The study included 359 patients treated between 2005 and 2016. Patients received either a lower or higher dose of chemotherapy, with or without radiotherapy, depending on their specific situation. For some, surgery to remove the tumor was also an option. After five years, 77% of patients had no cancer recurrence or progression, and 94% were still alive.
Key findings included:
Reducing the chemotherapy dose did not lower overall survival, but radiotherapy significantly improved the chances of avoiding cancer recurrence (event-free survival).
Radiotherapy was especially important for patients with orbital tumors (around the eye), where skipping it led to worse survival outcomes.
In patients whose tumors were fully removed with surgery, radiotherapy did not provide additional survival benefits.
Overall, the study showed that radiotherapy is a vital part of treatment for many patients, allowing for lower chemotherapy doses to reduce side effects without compromising survival. However, careful consideration is needed when deciding to omit radiotherapy, particularly for tumors in sensitive areas like the orbit.
The study included 359 patients treated between 2005 and 2016. Patients received either a lower or higher dose of chemotherapy, with or without radiotherapy, depending on their specific situation. For some, surgery to remove the tumor was also an option. After five years, 77% of patients had no cancer recurrence or progression, and 94% were still alive.
Key findings included:
Reducing the chemotherapy dose did not lower overall survival, but radiotherapy significantly improved the chances of avoiding cancer recurrence (event-free survival).
Radiotherapy was especially important for patients with orbital tumors (around the eye), where skipping it led to worse survival outcomes.
In patients whose tumors were fully removed with surgery, radiotherapy did not provide additional survival benefits.
Overall, the study showed that radiotherapy is a vital part of treatment for many patients, allowing for lower chemotherapy doses to reduce side effects without compromising survival. However, careful consideration is needed when deciding to omit radiotherapy, particularly for tumors in sensitive areas like the orbit.
