Radiation-induced sarcomas following childhood cancer - A Canadian Sarcoma Research and Clinical Collaboration Study (CanSaRCC)

Abstract

Background: Radiation-induced sarcoma (RIS) is a late toxicity of radiation therapy (RT) usually associated with poor prognosis. Due to ongoing improvements in childhood cancer treatment and patient outcomes, RIS may become more prevalent notwithstanding evolving indications for RT. Due to limited reported studies, we sought to review our experience with RIS in survivors of pediatric cancer.

Methodology: Data were collected on RIS patients following treatment for childhood cancer (initial diagnosis <18 years) identified in the CanSaRCC database. Additionally, details on the protocol guidance at time of treatment were compared with current guidelines for the same disease.

Results: Among 12 RIS identified, median age at initial diagnosis was 3.5 years (range 0.16-14) and the latency from RT to RIS diagnosis was 24.5 (range 5.4-46.2) years. Initial diagnoses included neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, Wilms tumor, retinoblastoma and Hodgkin's Lymphoma. RIS histologies included osteosarcoma and soft tissue sarcomas. In comparison to protocols followed at time of diagnosis to current ones (2022), 7/12 (58%) patients would have required RT. RIS treatment included chemotherapy, radiation and surgery in 3/11 (27%), 10/11 (90%), and 7/11 (63%) patients, respectively. With a median follow-up time of 4.7 years from diagnosis of RIS, 8 (66%) patients were alive and 4 (33%) had died of progressive RIS.

Conclusion: RIS is a serious late effect of radiotherapy in childhood cancer; however, radiation remains an integral component of primary tumor management and requires participation from a specialized multi-disciplinary team, aiming to mitigate RIS and other potential late effects.

Keywords: cancer survival; childhood cancer; radiation-induced sarcoma; radiotherapy; secondary neoplasia.