The purpose of the study was to examine safety and efficacy of non-activated Protein C (PC) supplementation in our cohort of septic pediatric hematological patients. We conducted a retrospective study of 22 septic patients receiving human plasma-derived PC concentrate from 2008 to 2015 at our Pediatric Oncology Center (Bari, Italy). The Surviving sepsis campaign definitions for sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock were used to define the patients’ septic status. For each patient, we calculated Lansky performance status scale (LPSS) and a risk score defined the Hematologic risk score (HRS) that we created in 2007. Patients were defined as High risk for severe sepsis/septic shock in case of HRS>3. HRS10% PC concentration decrease within 12 hours from the first evaluation. All patients received 80 U/kg/day PC, intravenously, every twenty-four hours. No drug-related adverse event was observed. The observed sepsis-related mortality rate in our cohort was 9%. PC supplementation in our cohort appeared to be safe, and, probably due to prompt PC administration, we observed an overall mortality that was much lower than expected mortality in cancer severe septic patients.

Iatrogenic calcinosis cutis is a rare disorder that can be due to the intravenous administration of calcium or phosphate-containing infusions such as calcium gluconate or calcium chloride with extravasation. Fortunately, the course of calcinosis cutis is benign in immunocompetent children. The treatment remains supportive therapy. After about 6 months, there is no evidence of tissue calcification. We describe a 4-year-old girl with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) who developed severe calcinosis cutis in the left humerus after extravasation of calcium gluconate during the treatment for the tumor-lysissyndrome-related hypocalcaemia. Surgical debridement and local wound care were not successful, and so a temporary suspension of chemotherapy was necessary to achieve complete healing of the lesion. Notwithstanding this complication, her ALL is in complete hematological remission after 8 months from the diagnosis. No functional or sensitive impairment due to the cutis has persisted.

Metastases in the bone marrow (BM) are grim prognostic factors in patients with neuroblastoma (NB). In spite of extensive analysis of primary tumor cells from high- and low-risk NB patients, a characterization of freshly isolated BM-infiltrating metastatic NB cells is still lacking. Our aim was to identify proteins specifically expressed by metastatic NB cells, that may be relevant for prognostic and therapeutic purposes. Sixty-six Italian children over 18 months of age, diagnosed with stage 4 NB, were included in the study. Metastatic NB cells were freshly isolated from patients' BM by positive immunomagnetic bead manipulation using anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody. Gene expression profiles were compared with those obtained from archived NB primary tumors from patients with 5y-follow-up. After validation by RT-qPCR, expression/secretion of the proteins encoded by the up-regulated genes in the BM-infiltrating NB cells was evaluated by flow cytometry and ELISA. Compared to primary tumor cells, BM-infiltrating NB cells down-modulated the expression of CX3CL1, AGT, ATP1A2 mRNAs, whereas they up-regulated several genes commonly expressed by various lineages of BM resident cells. BM-infiltrating NB cells expressed indeed the proteins encoded by the top-ranked genes, S100A8 and A9 (calprotectin), CD177 and CD3, and secreted the CXCL7 chemokine. BM-infiltrating NB cells also expressed CD271 and HLA-G. We have identified proteins specifically expressed by BM-infiltrating NB cells. Among them, calprotectin, a potent inflammatory protein, and HLA-G, endowed with tolerogenic properties facilitating tumor escape from host immune response, may represent novel biomarkers and/or targets for therapeutic intervention in high-risk NB patients.

Patients with ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) have an increased risk of developing malignancies and are prone to severe early or late toxicity owing to chemotherapy. Leukemia and lymphoma account for about 85% of malignancies, but solid tumors have also been reported. We describe an unusual case of an 8-year-old child affected by A-T, who presented a primary hepatic B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, treated with reduced doses of R-CHOP cycles plus rituximab. Three years later, the patient developed hepatoblastoma as a second malignancy. This case clearly emphasizes the need for intensive monitoring of A-T patients for early signs of malignancy and the opportunity to consider specific and modified regimens of chemotherapy.

We report an uncommon severe soft-tissue infection of the thighs in a male child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Early and aggressive medical treatment and the conservative surgical approach were successful. Necrotizing fasciitis should be suspected in any soft-tissue infection until it can be definitely ruled out, since prompt deliver of medical and surgical intervention is essential.

Purpose To describe treatment, clinical course, and survival of a cohort of Italian patients with neuroblastoma. Patients and Methods The study includes data from 2,216 children (age 0 to 14 years) diagnosed between 1979 and 2005. Overall survival (OS) was analyzed by clinical and biologic features at presentation and periods of diagnosis: 1979 to 1984, 1985 to 1991, 1992 to 1998, and 1999 to 2005. The relative risk of second malignant neoplasm (SMN) was assessed by the standardized incidence ratio (SIR), with the Italian population selected as referent. Results Yearly patient accrual increased over time from 58 to 102. Patients age 0 to 17 months represented 45.6% of the total population, and their incidence increased over time from 36.5% to 48.5%. The incidence of stage 1 patients increased over time from 5.8% to 23.2%. A total of 898 patients (40.5%) developed disease progression or relapse, 19 patients developed SMN, and two patients developed myelodysplasia. The cumulative risk of SMN at 20 years was 7.1%, for an SIR of 8.4 (95% CI, 5.1 to 13.2). A total of 858 patients (39%) died (779 of disease, 71 of toxicity, six of SMN, and two of tumor-unrelated surgical complications). Ten-year OS was 55.3% (95% CI, 53.0% to 57.6%) and increased over time from 34.9% to 65.0%; it was significantly better for females and patients age 0 to 17 months at diagnosis, with extra-abdominal primary, and stage 1 and 2 disease. OS improved significantly over time in stage 1 and 3 patients. In patients with stage 4 disease, the improvement occurred between the first and second time cohorts (6.7% v 23.5%), but not afterward. Conclusion The outcome of children with neuroblastoma has progressively improved. Long-term survivors bear a significant risk of SMN.

Febrile Neutropenia (FN) is a complication of chemotherapy in childhood cancer and at the same time secondary deficit of Protein C (PC) is often present during sepsis in children with cancer. In this study we have compared the clinical outcome of two different groups. At the onset of FN during chemotherapy the first group (patients with a secondary deficit of PC) received Protein C Concentrate (PCC) replacement while the other group without PC deficiency received only symptomatic therapies. We report that PC replacement could shorten duration of FN and improve the clinical outcome. The administration of PCC was safe and without any complications.

Background. Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) is the second most frequent lymphoma subtype in childhood. It is commonly treated according to therapy strategies for lymphoblastic leukemia. Methods. The AIEOP LNH-92 protocol was a modified LSA2-L2 therapy used for both T- and B-cell precursor LBL and included Induction, Consolidation, and Maintenance treatment with a total duration of II and 24 months for stages I and II, stages III and IV disease, respectively. Results. Fifty-five eligible patients were enrolled, 40 males and 15 females, with a median age of 8 years. Complete remission was achieved in 93% of the cases. With a median follow-up of 9 years the event-free survival (EFS) was 69% and overall survival 72%. EFS of localized disease was 100%). The most frequent grades III and IV toxicity was hematologic and hepatic (elevated transaminases) toxicity. No toxic death nor second turner were observed. Outcome was comparable to most concomitant international protocols for LBL, but inferior to recent trials that included reinduction treatment or a higher intensity therapy for high stage disease. Conclusions. AIEOP LNH92 protocol demonstrated similar efficacy compared to contemporary regimens, with limited toxicity. Nevertheless, an intensified treatment is warranted for high stage disease. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;53:953-959. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Here we report a case of administration of defibrotide in an 11 months old infant with hepatic veno-occlusive disease during chemotherapy for nephroblastoma. He presented with abdominal distension, a weight gain of 15%, ascites, hepatomegaly with right upper quadrant pain, thrombocytopenia and hypertransaminasemia. Despite therapy, his clinical conditions aggravated, and, therefore intravenous administration of defibrotide on a compassionate-use basis was started. The dosage was 15 mg/kg/day in 4 divided doses, which was increased gradually (in 3 days) to 40 mg/kg/day in 4 divided doses. Defibrotide proved safe and effective in resolving clinical symptoms and normalizing serological findings in the syndrome.

10031 Background: Children with metastases at diagnosis for Wilms tumor (WT) still display a worse prognosis compared to localized disease. Methods: We analyzed survival results in patients with stage IV WT enrolled in the AIEOP CNR92 and TW2003 clinical trials (3/1992–3/2008). Treatment strategy across these trials evolved in terms of sparing whole lung radiotherapy (RT) in case of complete disappearance of lung metastases after primary chemotherapy and a doxorubicin cumulative dose reduction from 360 mg/m 2 to 240 mg/m 2 in TW2003. Results: Of 553 in-study patients aged less than 18 years, 68 (12%) were classified as stage IV (38 patients in CNR92, 30 in TW2003; median age 58 months). Children displaying millimetric nodules visible only on computed tomography scan were excluded. Initial treatment consisted of 6-week 3-drug (vincristine, dactinomycin, doxorubicin) phase in 60 cases, while 8 had up-front nephrectomy. Adjuvant therapy included 8-month 3-drug chemotherapy for non anaplastic “local” tumor stage I to III (flank RT for stage III), or an intensified regimen for anaplastic histology, adding etoposide, carboplatinum and ifosfamide (6 patients). Overall 19 tumor failure occurred (3 in anaplastic tumors): metastases progression 9, abdominal relapse 5 (combined to liver and mediastinum in 1 case each), lung 4, liver 1. After a median follow-up of 53 months 5-yr RFS and OS were 71% ±6 and 77% ±5 for the whole cohort of children, respectively. Overall, RFS was 86% in patients who achieved a complete metastases remission (in 2 cases by surgery) compared to 55% in patients who did not (Logrank p<.05). Noteworthy the omission of lung RT in TW2003 trial for complete responders evaluated at week 6 did not jeopardize survival (85% RFS, vs 58% for those children with persistence of metastases and lung RT). There was a trend toward a worse outcome for patients with at least liver metastases (n 13) compared to those with other site (4-yr RFS 49% vs 74%, p=.1). Conclusions: Failure to obtain metastases complete remission, and maybe site other than lung, should be considered for chemotherapy intensification for metastatic WT. The impact of metastatic tumor burden deserves further analysis. Withholding RT in rapidly complete responders patients did not compromise outcome. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

The RMS4.99 study was designed to explore the role of early sequential intensified chemotherapy (SICT) with PBSC rescue in patients with soft tissue sarcoma with a poor prognosis. Fourteen patients with desmoplastic small round-cell tumor (DSRCT) were included in this study. Initial chemotherapy was followed by a course of CY and etoposide with subsequent PBSC harvest, then three consecutive intensified chemotherapy combinations followed by PBSC rescue and G-CSF administration: first cycle thiotepa (150 mg/m2 × 2 on day 1) and melphalan (60 mg/m2 on day 2), second cycle CY (2 g/m2 on days 1 and 2) and thiotepa (150 mg/m2 × 2 on day 3), third cycle melphalan (80 mg/m2 on day 1). The interval between cycles had to be kept as short as possible. Then patients underwent surgery or radiotherapy or both, after which six courses of vincristine, actinomycin D, CY were administered. Ten patients received SICT, which was well tolerated. With a median follow-up of 27 months only three patients are alive without evidence of disease. The 3-year event-free and overall survival rates were 15.5 and 38.9%, respectively. The prognosis for pediatric patients with DSRCT did not improve after administering intensified chemotherapy early in their treatment, so different strategies are needed.