Rhabdoid tumor of the kidney in the National Wilms' Tumor Study: age at diagnosis as a prognostic factor

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this study is to determine prognostic factors in rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (RTK), including both demographic and treatment variables.

Patients and methods: A total of 142 patients studied on National Wilms' Tumor Studies 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 were analyzed. Patients were enrolled between the years 1969 and 2002. Variables examined included sex, age of diagnosis, tumor stage, presence of CNS lesions, as well as treatment variables, including the use of doxorubicin and/or radiotherapy (RT).

Results: No survival differences were observed between males and females, between those treated with or without doxorubicin, or with or without RT. Patients with tumors of lower stage had an overall survival rate of 41.8%, whereas, tumors of higher stage were associated with a 15.9% survival (P < .001). A highly significant difference in survival was noted when patients were stratified according to age of diagnosis. Survival at 4 years in infants under 6 months of age at diagnosis was 8.8%, whereas, survival in patients 2 years of age or older was 41.1% (P < .0001). Stratification into intermediate age brackets demonstrated a strong correlation of increasing survival with increasing age at diagnosis. All patients with a CNS lesion, except one, died.

Conclusion: Age at diagnosis is a highly significant prognostic factor for survival of children with RTK. Infants have a dismal prognosis, whereas, older children have a more favorable outcome. Higher tumor stage and presence of a CNS lesion were both factors predictive of a poor survival rate.