Local failure in childhood rhabdomyosarcoma and undifferentiated sarcoma: Prognostic factors and implications for curative therapy

Authors:
  • VTVivienne Tobias
    Vivienne Tobias
  • IKIan B. Kern
    Ian B. Kern
  • DODarcy O′Gorman‐Hughes
    Darcy O′Gorman‐Hughes
  • MVMarcus Vowels
    Marcus Vowels
  • JMJill Mameghan
    Jill Mameghan
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Abstract
In this retrospective review, the risk factors for local failure in childhood rhabdomy‐osarcoma and undifferentiated sarcoma were assessed in 49 patients managed by a multi‐disciplinary team at the Prince of Wales Children′s Hospital, Sydney, between 1970 and 1988. Average follow‐up time was 6.1 years. Sixteen of 49 patients experienced local failure defined as local recurrence after complete excision (5/20) or progressive local disease following incomplete resection (11/29). Fourteen of 16 patients who experienced local failure have died. Using logrank analysis of time to local failure, we found significantly increased risk with “non‐embryonal” histology (P= 0.032), residual tumour (P= 0.052, higher IRS group (P= 0.088), “inadequate radiotherapy” for residual tumour (P= 0.001), delay in definitive local treatment (P= 0.038) and Adriamycin‐containing chemotherapy (P= 0.017). When these factors were examined by multivariate analysis (Cox regression), only the presence of residual tumour after resection, “inadequate radiotherapy” for residual tumour (P< 0.001), and delay in definitive local therapy (P= 0.037) were shown to have independent significant association with local failure. We conclude that local failure may be avoided by prompt local treatment by either complete surgical resection or adequate radiotherapy.

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