Submit an article
Abstracts Pediatric Oncology

Medulloblastoma of early childhood. Salvage and outcome after initial CSI sparing approaches

Authors: • Lucie Lafay-Cousin • Daynielle-Rose Cansanay • Craig Erker • Erin Ratterman • Mary Pat Schlosser • Liana Nobre • Rebecca Ronsley • Vanan Magimairajan • Natasha Pillay-Smiley • Andrew Cluster • Susan Chi • Annalise Bracher • Lindsey Hoffman • Akanksha Senapati • Marie Simbozel • Martin Minarek • Andrea M Cappellano • Kenneth J Cohen • Vicente Santa-Maria Lopez • Andres Morales-La Madrid • Chantel Cacciotti • Lorena Baroni • Ralph Salloum • Ashley S Margol • George Michaiel • Sylvia Cheng • Juliette Hukin • Dolly Aguilera • Claire Mazewski • Cassie Kline • Jonathan L. Finlay • Mohamed S. Abdelbaki • Jeffrey C. Murray • Kathleen Dorris • Bruce Crooks • Kevin F. Ginn • Nisreen Amayiri • Alvaro Lassaletta • Jordan R. Hansford • Sara Khan • Stephen W. Gilheeney • Michal Zapotocky • Valérie Larouche • Shafqat Shah • Amar Gajjar • Sébastien Perreault • Sabine Mueller • Zhihong J. Wang • Kara Matheson • Simon Bailey • Steven C. Clifford • Giles Robinson • Carlo Dufour • Stefan Rutkowski • Eric Bouffet
Date: April 1, 2025
DOI: 10.69690/ODMJ-018-0425-1576
Download

Abstract

Introduction: Infant medulloblastoma (iMB) is usually treated without craniospinal irradiation (CSI) to avoid neurocognitive late effects. Unfortunately, many of them relapse. In a previous cohort of 380 relapse iMB, initially treated without CSI, we reported a 3-year post relapse survival (PRS) of 52.4%. We described differences in PRS and salvage therapies according to molecular subgrouping.

Methodology: In this extended retrospective cohort, we explored salvage management of SHH/Nodular Desmoplastic (ND) iMB after initial CSI avoidance and for group 4 iMB, we investigated outcome after high dose chemotherapy (HDC) and described salvage management.

Results: For 147 SHH/ND iMB, median time to relapse was 14.7 months (range: 1-139.7). Relapse was local in 40.8%. Of 129 who received curative salvage therapy, half underwent surgery and 74.4% received radiotherapy (CSI 81.3%; median dose: 36 Gy). Patients with localized relapse were more likely to receive CSI dose ≤24Gy or focal RT (p<0.001; p<0.008). The 3-year PRS was 61.6% For the 36 group 4 iMB, 19(52.8%) relapsed (median time: 21 months) and 5-years PFS was 42.2%.

Relapse was local in 42.1%. Patients treated with 3 cycles of HDC had a better PFS compared to 1 or 2 cycles (p=0.001). 17/19 patients received salvage RT (median CSI dose of 36Gy). However, 7 received CSI dose < 24Gy and 2 underwent focal RT. Three years PRS was 70.2%. No prognostic factor was associated with PRS. The 5 yrs OS for the entire cohort was 71.6%.

Conclusion: Survival of relapsed SHH iMB is not satisfactory and relies on neurotoxic CSI. Maximizing upfront cure to avoid relapse is crucial. CSI dose ≤ 24 G can be considered for localized relapse. For Group4 iMB, HDC alone was associated with a high relapse rate but 70.5% were salvaged with RT. Such a strategy may be discussed for the youngest of group 4 iMB.

childhood cancer craniospinal irradiation (CSI) Infant medulloblastoma (iMB) medulloblastoma pediatric cancer SIOP Asia 2025