The prognosis and effects of local treatment strategies for orbital embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma: a population-based study

• Main Authors: Tang LY, Zhang MX, Lu DH, Chen YX, Liu ZG, Wu SG
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2018-06-01
• Series: Cancer Management and Research
• Subjects: Orbital embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma; survival; radiotherapy; surgery
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/the-prognosis-and-effects-of-local-treatment-strategies-for-orbital-em-peer-reviewed-article-CMAR

Li-Ying Tang,1 Mou-Xin Zhang,2 Di-Han Lu,3 Yong-Xiong Chen,1 Zu-Guo Liu,1,2 San-Gang Wu4 1Eye Institute of Xiamen University, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Medical College, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, People’s Republic of China; 2Xiamen University Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center, Xiamen 361001, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Radiation Oncology, Xiamen Cancer Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, People’s Republic of China Introduction: Orbital embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare childhood malignancy with a good prognosis, but the optimal treatment remains unclear. Using a population-based cancer registry, we assessed the prognoses and survival outcomes of patients with orbital embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma according to the local treatment strategy.Patients and methods: Patients diagnosed with orbital embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma between 1988 and 2012 as part of the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results program were included. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the prognostic factors associated with cause-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS).Results: In total, 102 patients were included; their median age was 6 years, 78.4% were white, and 56.9% were male. The median tumor size was 30 mm. Of 20 patients with an available histologic grade, the tumors of 90% were poorly differentiated/undifferentiated. Of 92 patients with available surgical and radiotherapy (RT) statuses, 50 (54.3%), 36 (39.1%), and 6 (6.5%) received surgery and RT, primary RT, and primary surgery, respectively. Ninety-five patients (93.1%) received chemotherapy. The 5- and 10-year CSSs of the entire cohort were 94.3% and 92.2%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year OSs were 93.3% and 91.3%, respectively. In 95 patients who were followed up for at least 12 months, there were no significant prognostic factors related to CSS and OS. Furthermore, the local treatment strategy did not significantly affect CSS (P=0.29) or OS (P=0.468).Conclusion: There is no local treatment of choice for orbital embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in terms of survival. However, RT is a reasonable alternative treatment to surgery. Keywords: orbital embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, survival, radiotherapy, surgery, SEER