Postponed Is Not Canceled: Role of Craniospinal Radiation Therapy in the Management of Recurrent Infant Medulloblastoma—An Experience From the HIT-REZ 1997 and 2005 Studies
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig (Germany)
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg (Germany)
- Institute for Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Mainz Medical Center, Mainz (Germany)
- University Hospital of Essen, Pediatrics III, Essen (Germany)
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospital, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn (Germany)
- Department of Radiotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover (Germany)
- Clinic and Policlinic for Radiation Therapy and Radiooncology, University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf (Germany)
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen (Switzerland)
- Department of Neuroradiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg (Germany)
- Department of Neuropathology, University of Bonn Medical Center, Bonn (Germany)
Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of craniospinal irradiation (CSI) in the management of recurrent infant medulloblastoma after surgery and chemotherapy alone. Methods and Materials: Seventeen pediatric medulloblastoma patients registered in the HIT-REZ 1997 and 2005 studies underwent CSI as salvage treatment at first recurrence. All patients had achieved complete remission after first-line treatment consisting of surgery and chemotherapy. Eleven patients showed metastatic disease at relapse. Five patients underwent surgery prior to radiation therapy, which resulted in complete resection in 1 case. In 1 patient, complete resection of the residual tumor was performed after CSI. Eleven patients received chemotherapy prior, 6 patients during and 8 patients after CSI. All patients received CSI with a median total dose of 35.2 Gy, and all but 1 received a boost to the posterior fossa (median total dose, 55.0 Gy). Metastases were boosted with an individual radiation dose, depending on their location and extent. Results: During a median follow-up time of 6.2 years since recurrence, 11 patients showed progressive disease and died. Median progression-free (overall) survival was 2.9 ± 1.1 (3.8 ± 0.8) years. Progression-free survival (PFS) rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 88% ± 8%, 46% ± 12%, and 40% ± 12%, respectively. Overall survival (OS) rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 94% ± 6%, 58% ± 12%, and 39% ± 12%, respectively. For 11 patients with classic medulloblastoma, 3-year (and 5-year) PFS and OS were 62% ± 15% and 72% ± 14% (52% ± 16% and 51% ± 16%), respectively. On univariate analysis, metastatic disease was not associated with poorer progression-free and overall survival. Conclusions: Our results suggest that salvage treatment of relapsed medulloblastomas consisting of CSI and chemotherapy offers a second chance for cure, even for patients with classic histological findings. Metastatic disease at relapse did not have an impact on survival. However, this may be explained by the small number of patients.
- OSTI ID:
- 22416514
- Journal Information:
- International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Vol. 88, Issue 5; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0360-3016
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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