Multimodality therapy including radiotherapy and chemotherapy improves event-free survival in stage C esthesioneuroblastoma

Treatment Outcomes of Olfactory Neuroblastoma: A Multicenter Study by the Korean Sinonasal Tumor and Skull Base Surgery Study Group

OBJECTIVES

Due to the rarity of olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB), there is ongoing debate about optimal treatment strategies, especially for early-stage or locally advanced cases. Therefore, our study aimed to explore experiences from multiple centers to identify factors that influence the oncological outcomes of ONB.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 195 ONB patients treated at nine tertiary hospitals in South Korea between December 1992 and December 2019. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate oncological outcomes, and a Cox proportional hazards regression model was employed to analyze prognostic factors for survival outcomes. Furthermore, we conducted 1:1 nearest-neighbor matching to investigate differences in clinical outcomes according to the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

RESULTS

In our cohort, the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 78.6%, and the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 62.4%. The Cox proportional hazards model revealed that the modified Kadish (mKadish) stage and Dulguerov T status were significantly associated with DFS, while the mKadish stage and Hyams grade were identified as prognostic factors for OS. The subgroup analyses indicated a trend toward improved 5-year DFS with dural resection in mKadish A and B cases, even though the result was statistically insignificant. Induction chemotherapy did not provide a survival benefit in this study after matching for the mKadish stage and nodal status.

CONCLUSION

Clinical staging and pathologic grading are important prognostic factors in ONB. Dural resection in mKadish A and B did not show a significant survival benefit. Similarly, induction chemotherapy also did not show a survival benefit, even after stage matching.

DNA Methylation Profiling in Rare Sellar Tumors

The histologic diagnosis of sellar masses can be challenging, particularly in rare neoplasms and tumors without definitive biomarkers. Moreover, there is significant inter-observer variability in the histopathological diagnosis of many tumors of the CNS, and some rare tumors risk being misclassified. DNA methylation has recently emerged as a useful diagnostic tool. To illustrate the clinical utility of machine-learning-based DNA methylation classifiers, we report a rare case of primary sellar esthesioneuroblastoma histologically mimicking a non-functioning pituitary adenoma. The patient had multiple recurrences, and the resected specimens had unusual histopathology. A portion of the resected sellar lesion was profiled using clinically validated whole-genome DNA methylation and classification. DNA was extracted from the tissue, hybridized on DNA methylation chips, and analyzed using a clinically validated classifier. DNA methylation profiling of the lesion showed that the tumor classified best with the esthesioneuroblastoma reference cohort. This case highlights the difficulty in diagnosing atypical sellar lesions by standard histopathological methods. However, when phenotypic analyses were nonconclusive, DNA methylation profiling resulted in a change in diagnosis. We discuss the growing role of DNA methylation profiling in the classification and diagnosis of CNS tumors, finding that utilization of DNA methylation studies in cases of atypical presentation or diagnostic uncertainty may improve diagnostic accuracy with therapeutic and prognostic implications.

Dramatic response to targeted therapy in an aggressive olfactory neuroblastoma: illustrative case

BACKGROUND

Olfactory neuroblastomas are rare sinonasal tumors that arise from the olfactory epithelium. The authors presented a case of an olfactory neuroblastoma with extensive cranial invasion that demonstrated dramatic response to sorafenib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

OBSERVATIONS

A 54-year-old man with history of prostate cancer and melanoma presented with left-sided proptosis and was found to have a 6.5-cm Kadish stage D olfactory neuroblastoma with cranial invasion that was refractory to chemotherapy and everolimus. However, it demonstrated dramatic response to sorafenib, causing extensive skull base defects that prompted operative repair. Genomic analysis of the tumor revealed mutations in TSC1 and SUFU. The patient developed disease progression with liver metastases 35 months after starting sorafenib, prompting a change to lenvatinib. He experienced progression of his olfactory neuroblastoma 10 months following this change and died in hospice 1 month later.

LESSONS

The authors reviewed the clinical presentation and management of a large olfactory neuroblastoma with dramatic response to sorafenib. They highlighted prior uses of targeted therapy in the management of refractory olfactory neuroblastoma within the context of current standard treatment regimens. Targeted therapies may play a vital role in the management of refractory olfactory neuroblastoma.

The role of chemotherapy in the management of olfactory neuroblastoma: A 40-year surveillance, epidemiology, and end results registry study

BACKGROUND

In this retrospective surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) registry analysis, we investigated the role of chemotherapy (CT) in the treatment of olfactory neuroblastoma (ON), an exceedingly rare sino-nasal tumor typically treated with surgery and/or radiation therapy (RT).

METHODS

We analyzed all patients in the SEER registry diagnosed with a single primary malignancy of ON, a primary tumor site within the nasal cavity or surrounding sinuses, sufficient staging information to derive Kadish staging, and >0 days of survival, ensuring follow-up data. Receipt of CT in the SEER registry was documented as either Yes or No/Unknown.

RESULTS

Six hundred and thirty-six patients were identified. One hundred and ninety-five patients received CT as part of their treatment for ON. Following propensity score matching and inverse probability of treatment weighting, there was inferior overall survival (OS) (HR 1.7, 95% CI: 1.3-2.2, P = .001) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) (HR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.3-2.4, P < .001) for patients who received CT compared to those who were not treated with CT or had unknown CT status. On subgroup analysis, the only patient population that derived benefit from CT were patients who did not receive surgery and were treated with CT and/or RT (HR 0.3, 95% CI: 0.14-0.61, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Based on this retrospective SEER registry analysis, the use of CT in the management of ON is associated with decreased OS. Our analysis suggests that patients who are considered nonsurgical candidates may benefit from the addition of CT.

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy for Esthesioneuroblastoma: 10-Year Experience of a Single Institute

Objectives: To evaluate efficacy and safety of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in the management of esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB). Methods and Materials: A retrospectively analysis of 52 ENB patients treated with IMRT between 8/2008 and 8/2018 was performed. Thirteen of the 44 patients (29.5%) with newly diagnosed and 2 of the 8 patients with recurrent disease presented regional lymph node metastasis. The median dose of IMRT was 66 (range 52.5-75) Gy for all patients. Elective nodal irradiation (ENI) was provided to all excluding 6 patients in this cohort. Results: With a median follow-up time of 32.5 (6~121) months, the 3-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), local progression-free survival (LPFS), regional progression-free survival (RPFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rates for the entire cohort were 89.7, 69.5, 89.7, 95.1, and 85.4%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that N-classification (N- vs. N+) at presentation was the only significant prognosticators for PFS. No significant prognosticator was identified for other survival outcome. No severe (i.e., grade 3 or 4) IMRT-induced acute toxicity was observed. Severe late toxicities were infrequent (11.5%), which included dysosmia (3.8%), hearing loss (3.8%), radiation brain injury (1.9%), and temporal lobe necrosis (1.9%). Moreover, late ocular toxicity secondary to IMRT was not observed. Conclusion: IMRT produced acceptable 3-year outcomes in terms of OS (89.7%), LPFS (89.7%), and RPFS (95.1%) rates without substantial late adverse effects. Further investigations for a more effective systemic strategy for distant disease control as well as a precision radiation technique for further improvement in local control are needed.

The Role of Adjuvant Treatment in Craniofacial Malignancy: A Critical Review

Background: Tumors originating from the craniofacial region usually present in a locally advanced stage with frequent involvement of adjacent sites and have a strong tendency for local recurrence in the absence of adjuvant therapy, even when the original surgical resection was presumed to be radical. In the past decades, several advances in the radiological diagnosis and treatment of craniofacial malignancies have been introduced. There are, however, no randomized trials that define the optimal multimodal treatment of these tumors because of their rarity as well as heterogeneity in both histology and site of origin. The aim of this study was to conduct a critical review of the role of adjuvant therapy in the treatment of craniofacial malignancy. Method: We conducted a critical review of the past and contemporary literature available, focusing on adjuvant oncological treatments of the most common craniofacial malignancies. Results: Preoperative radiotherapy can have a documented role in the treatment of olfactory neuroblastoma and soft tissue sarcoma, while preoperative chemotherapy can be advocated in the treatment of sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma, neuroendocrine carcinoma, olfactory neuroblastoma, and craniofacial sarcoma (both soft-tissue and high-grade osteosarcoma). Postoperative radiotherapy has a well-established role in the treatment of most craniofacial malignancies. The role of postoperative chemotherapy is unclear in most histologies, but is commonly used during the treatment of well-selected cases of paranasal sinus carcinoma, olfactory neuroblastoma, mucosal melanoma, soft tissue sarcoma and high-grade craniofacial osteosarcoma. Discussion: Alongside developments in surgery, there have also been improvements in diagnostics, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Implementation of novel radiation techniques allows delivery of higher radiation doses while minimizing irradiation-related morbidity. Better understanding of tumor biology allows the construction of more complex treatment strategies, incorporating adjuvant chemotherapy either pre- or postoperatively. In the era of personalized targeted therapy, rapid strides are being made to identify specific tumor-targets for use of novel biologic agents, with the potential to change current management paradigms.

Comparing Kadish and Modified Dulguerov Staging Systems for Olfactory Neuroblastoma: An Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To compare the Kadish and the modified Dulguerov staging of individual participants to determine the impact of stage and other prognostic factors on disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS).

DATA SOURCES

Systematic review of EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL databases.

REVIEW METHODS

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) was followed for this study. Articles including patients with olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) staged with both Kadish and Dulguerov staging systems were reviewed. The raw data from eligible studies were requested to perform an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Pooled data from 21 studies representing 399 patients with ONB undergoing treatment with curative intent showed that increasing age, treatment with chemotherapy, and positive or unreported margin status portended worse DFS (P < .05). Increasing stage for both Kadish and Dulguerov staging systems was prognostic for worse DFS and OS (P < .05), with Kadish C representing a heterogeneous group with regard to outcome and corresponding Dulguerov T stage. Using the Akaike information criterion, the Dulguerov staging system had superior performance to the Kadish system for DFS (1088.72 vs 1092.54) and OS (632.71 vs 644.23).

CONCLUSION

This study represents the first IPD meta-analysis of ONB directly comparing the outcomes of Kadish and Dulguerov staging systems in patients treated with primary surgery. Both systems correlated with DFS and OS, with superior performance in the Dulguerov system. Furthermore, the Kadish C group represented a heterogeneous group with regard to outcomes after stratification by the Dulguerov system. Dulguerov T4 patients had the worst outcome, with most being approached with open resection.

Multimodal Therapy for Sinonasal Malignancies: Updates and Review of Current Treatment

OPINION STATEMENT

Sinonasal malignancies pose a significant challenge in management due to their low incidence, biologic diversity, and significant symptom burden. Even though surgery remains the primary therapeutic modality, a multi-modality approach has been shown to benefit a significant proportion of patients and its success depends largely on stage and histologic type. Non-surgical approaches such as novel radiation approaches as well as intensification with systemic therapy hold promise in altering the organ preservation rate as well as overall survival for patients. Practice changing randomized trials to test these novel modalities are overdue and desperately needed.

Esthesioneuroblastoma: A Comprehensive Review of Diagnosis, Management, and Current Treatment Options

INTRODUCTION

Many controversies exist in the diagnosis and management of this aggressively malignant condition, mainly because of limited literature and lack of randomized control trials, resulting in nonstandardized treatment methods. We performed a comprehensive review of the literature to identify management approach and treatment options for esthesioneuroblastoma.

METHODS

An extensive review of the published literature was conducted in PubMed, OVID Medline, and EMBASE journals for studies of esthesioneuroblastoma. Terms for search included esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) and olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB). No date restrictions were used.

RESULTS

The search yielded 3876 related articles. Cross-checking of articles led to exclusion of duplicate articles. The remaining 1170 articles were screened for their full text and English language availability. Of 609 full-text articles available, animal studies, irrelevant articles, and studies with mixed/confusing data were excluded. We finalized 149 articles pertaining to the topic, including 119 original research articles, 3 book chapters, 11 reviews, 9 case reports, and 7 case series.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical resection followed by radiotherapy is the standard for treatment for higher-grade lesions. The endoscopic endonasal approach is gaining further recognition with more favorable outcomes and better survival than for open surgery. Postoperative radiotherapy is associated with the highest overall survival and shows benefit for patients with higher-stage disease and those who receive chemotherapy. Recurrence rates after treatment vary drastically in the literature and, therefore, prolonged follow-up with repeated imaging is recommended. Lifelong surveillance is recommended because of late recurrences associated with this tumor.

Treatment of pediatric esthesioneuroblastoma with smell preservation

Olfactory neuroblastoma is a rare malignant tumor of neuroectodermal origin and represents the most common cancer of the nasal cavity in pediatric age. The gold standard of treatment consists of en bloc resection, numerous studies have shown as the endoscopic approaches permit good control of the disease improving the quality of life after the treatment. Herein we describe the case of a 13-year-old patient referred to our outpatient clinic with a polypoid multi-lobed lesion occupying the left nasal cavity and imaging that confirmed a left-sided nasal mass without cribriform plate involvement (Kadish B). We performed an unilateral endoscopic resection with transnasal craniectomy and anterior skull base reconstruction with a flap from the contralateral nasal septum based on the septal branches of the anterior and posterior ethmoidal arteries (Septal Flip Flap, SFF), that provided a faster healing process with reduction of nasal crusting, improvement in the quality of life of patient in the postoperative period and the preservation of the contralateral olfactory bulb that has allowed to save the smell. This treatment strategy of pediatric esthesioneuroblastoma was analyzed in the context of the current literature.

Importance of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in olfactory neuroblastoma treatment: Series report and literature review

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is a rare entity that constitutes less than 5% of nasosinusal malignancies. Mainstream treatment consists in surgical resection+/-adjuvant radiotherapy. By exposing results observed with apparition of new therapeutic options as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the objective is to evaluate a series and a review of the current literature.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted including patients diagnosed and followed-up for ONB from 2008 to 2015 in our institution.

RESULTS

9 patients were included. Mean follow-up of 52.5 months (range 10-107). Kadish stage: A, 1 patient (11.1%) treated with endoscopic surgery; B, 2 patients (22.2%) treated with endoscopic surgery (one of them received adjuvant radiotherapy); C, 6 patients (66.7%), 4 patients presented intracranial extension and were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery and radiotherapy. The other 2 patients presented isolated orbital extension, treated with radical surgery (endoscopic or craniofacial resection) plus radiotherapy. The 5-year disease free and overall survival observed was 88.9%.

CONCLUSION

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy could be an effective treatment for tumor reduction, improving surgical resection and reducing its complications.

The Role of Chemotherapy in the Management of Sinonasal and Ventral Skull Base Malignancies

In most cases of advanced sinonasal and ventral skull base cancer, a multimodal treatment approach provides the best chance for improved outcomes. Depending on the tumor type and extent of disease, systemic chemotherapy has been shown to play an important role in neoadjuvant, concomitant, and adjuvant settings. The lack of randomized trials continues to limit its indications. Further high-quality studies are needed to understand ideal chemotherapeutic regimens and their role and sequential timing in sinonasal and ventral skull base cancer.

Olfactory neuroblastoma: 14-year experience at an Australian tertiary centre and the role for longer-term surveillance

BACKGROUND

Olfactory neuroblastoma is a rare sinonasal malignancy, with poorly defined treatment protocols. Management at a tertiary centre was retrospectively evaluated to inform future treatment and follow up.

METHODS

Cases treated with curative intent (2000-2014) were included. Data were collected, and overall and disease-free survival rates were calculated.

RESULTS

Eleven cases were identified, with a median follow up of 87 months. One patient was Kadish stage A, one was stage B, eight were stage C and one was stage D. The latter patient underwent chemoradiotherapy alone. The remaining patients proceeded to: endoscopic-assisted wide local excision (n = 2), anterior craniofacial resection (n = 4) or endoscopic craniofacial resection (n = 4). No patients had primary nodal disease or elective neck treatment. One patient had neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Six patients had post-operative radiotherapy; three received adjuvant chemotherapy. Two patients had late cervical node failure, and proceeded to neck dissection and post-operative radiotherapy. Two patients had late local recurrence. Ten-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 68.2 and 46.7 per cent, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Longer-term follow up is supported given the incidence of late regional and local recurrence. Prophylactic treatment of cervical nodes in locally advanced disease is an area for further investigation.

Lutetium 177-DOTA-TATE therapy for esthesioneuroblastoma: A case report

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB), also known as olfactory neuroblastoma, is a rare malignant tumor that accounts for 3% of all tumors of the nasal cavity. The incidence of ENB is 0.4 cases per million in the general population, and the most common symptoms are nasal obstruction and epistaxis. Previous studies have indicated the presence of somatostatin receptors in this tumor type. Common treatment strategies for ENB include resection and adjuvant radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy (combined treatment); however, the rate of recurrence is high. Treatment of neuroendocrine tumors using radionuclides bound to somatostatin analogues is well established in clinical practice. However, a standard and effective therapeutic approach has not been reported for ENB. The current study described the case of a 74-year-old female with numerous recurrences of ENB following multiple treatments and without possibility of resection. The patient was treated with the radiolabeled-somatostatin analogue, ¹⁷⁷Lutetium-DOTA-octreotate (¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTA-TATE), which successfully controlled the disease. This suggests that ¹⁷⁷Lu-DOTA-TATE is a potential treatment for ENB and may represent an effective alternative and novel therapeutic strategy for this disease.

Esthesioneuroblastoma With Poor Outcome Despite Extensive Treatment

Esthesioneuroblastoma is a rare malignant tumor of neuroectodermal origin. It usually presents with nonspecific symptoms, such as nasal obstruction, epistaxis, and pain, but has an aggressive course if the treatment is delayed. The authors report a case of esthesioneuroblastoma in a 47-year-old woman, treated with extensive surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Despite intensive treatment, the patient developed a local recurrence with systemic metastasis and succumbed 4 months later.

Neck recurrence and mortality in esthesioneuroblastoma: Implications for management of the N0 neck

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

To review the literature on neck recurrence in esthesioneuroblastoma.

STUDY DESIGN

PubMed database.

METHODS

A PubMed database search was performed using keywords "esthesioneuroblastoma," "olfactory neuroblastoma," and "esthesioneuroblastoma neck metastasis." Articles written in English with greater than 10 subjects that had data regarding the association of neck recurrence and mortality and/or the association of neck recurrence with Kadish stage were included for analysis.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies met inclusion criteria with information regarding the association of neck recurrence and mortality, and 15 studies had data associating neck recurrence and Kadish stage. The neck recurrence rate was 14.1% in studies analyzing mortality. Among those patients who developed regional metastases, mortality was 60%. Of patients without regional recurrence, the mortality rate from disease was 26% (P < 0.0001) and overall mortality was 32% (P < 0.0001). The rate of neck recurrence within each Kadish stage was 0%, 11%, 21%, and 18% for Kadish stages A, B, C, and D, respectively. The trend toward an increased incidence of neck recurrence from stage A to stage D is statistically significant, with P value 0.003.

CONCLUSION

The rate of neck recurrence in esthesioneuroblastoma is close to 15%. There is a strong association of recurrence with Kadish stage B and C. Mortality from disease in patients with recurrence in cervical lymph nodes is significant when compared to those who never develop neck disease. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate a potential role for elective neck dissection versus elective neck radiation for patients with esthesioneuroblastoma.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

N/A. Laryngoscope, 126:1373-1379, 2016.

Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion associated with olfactory neuroblastoma

This study reports a patient having olfactory neuroblastoma complicated by syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion. Olfactory neuroblastoma is a rare tumor that begins in the olfactory membrane. Only 10 cases have been reported previously. Because of having nonspecific symptoms, most patients manifest at an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis. Olfactory neuroblastoma may show local invasion and/or distant metastasis. We demonstrated preoperatively clinical and biochemical parameters consistent with antidiuretic hormone syndrome turned to normal ranges after the treatment. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are the choices of treatment; among these, surgery is an indispensible treatment.

Esthesioneuroblastoma of the nasal cavity

OBJECTIVES

Esthesioneuroblastoma is an uncommon cancer of the nasal cavity. We describe the outcomes for 26 patients treated with curative intent with photon radiotherapy (RT) at the University of Florida.

METHODS

Between May 1972 and June 2007, 26 patients received RT for previously untreated esthesioneuroblastoma of the nasal cavity. Sixteen patients were males and 10 were females with a median age of 55 years (range, 3 to 82 y). The modified Kadish stage distribution was: B, 7 patients; C, 17 patients; and D, 2 patients. Treatment modalities included the following: definitive RT, 5 patients; preoperative RT, 2 patients; and postoperative RT after resection, 19 patients. Elective neck irradiation (ENI) was performed in 17 (71%) of 24 N0 patients.

RESULTS

Rates of local control, cause-specific survival, and absolute overall survival at 5 years were 79%, 72%, and 69%, respectively. Overall survival among patients treated with definitive RT was 20% at 5 years, compared with 81% among those who underwent surgery and adjuvant RT (P=0.01). One (6%) of 17 patients who received ENI developed a recurrence in the neck and was successfully salvaged. Ultimate neck control was 100% at 5 years for patients who received ENI versus 69% among those not receiving ENI (P=0.0173).

CONCLUSIONS

Resection combined with adjuvant RT is more effective than surgery or RT alone in the treatment of esthesioneuroblastoma. ENI reduces the risk of regional relapse in patients with Kadish stage B and C cancers.

Olfactory neuroblastoma: the long-term outcome and late toxicity of multimodal therapy including radiotherapy based on treatment planning using computed tomography

Background

Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is a rare tumor originating from olfactory epithelium. Here we retrospectively analyzed the long-term treatment outcomes and toxicity of radiotherapy for ONB patients for whom computed tomography (CT) and three-dimensional treatment planning was conducted to reappraise the role of radiotherapy in the light of recent advanced technology and chemotherapy.

Methods

Seventeen patients with ONB treated between July 1992 and June 2013 were included. Three patients were Kadish stage B and 14 were stage C. All patients were treated with radiotherapy with or without surgery or chemotherapy. The radiation dose was distributed from 50 Gy to 66 Gy except for one patient who received 40 Gy preoperatively.

Results

The median follow-up time was 95 months (range 8–173 months). The 5-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) rates were estimated at 88% and 74%, respectively. Five patients with stage C disease had recurrence with the median time to recurrence of 59 months (range 7–115 months). Late adverse events equal to or above Grade 2 in CTCAE v4.03 were observed in three patients.

Conclusion

Multimodal therapy including radiotherapy with precise treatment planning based on CT simulation achieved an excellent local control rate with acceptable toxicity and reasonable overall survival for patients with ONB.

Long-term carcinologic results of advanced esthesioneuroblastoma: a systematic review

Surgical resection followed by radiotherapy can be considered like the optimal treatment modality for limited esthesioneuroblastoma. However, therapeutic management of locally advanced tumors remains a challenge. The aim of our study was to access and compare the oncologic results of the different treatment modalities in advanced esthesioneuroblastoma. We performed a systematic review using the Medline, and Cochrane database in accordance with PRISMA criteria and included all the cases of advanced esthesioneuroblastoma published between 2000 and 2013. We also retrospectively included 15 patients with an advanced esthesioneuroblastoma managed at our tertiary care medical center. Long-term survival rates defined as the time from diagnosis or randomization to the date of death or last follow-up were evaluated for each treatment with Kaplan-Meier survival curve analyses. 283 patients have been included. The mean follow-up was 78 months. Five-year highest survival rates were obtained in patients treated by surgery associated with radiotherapy. Ten-year highest survival rates were obtained in patients treated by the association of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy (p = 0.0008). Within the surgical group, 5-year highest survival rates were obtained in patients treated by endoscopic resection (p = 0.003). Surgical resection combined with radiotherapy offers the gold standard of care. Adjuvant chemotherapy seems to improve the long-term survival in patients with locally advanced esthesioneuroblastoma. Endoscopic resection in advanced tumors should be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

[Esthesioneuroblastoma]

Esthesioneuroblastoma is an uncommon malignancy originating from olfactive epithelium. Men are more frequently affected than women. Nasal symptoms are the most common revealing signs. Immunohistochemistry helps diagnosis. There is no randomized trial evaluating treatment due to the low incidence of this tumor. Radiotherapy and surgery are the standard of care. Radiotherapy is benefic even in early stage disease. Chemotherapy is indicated in case of locally advanced or metastatic disease.

Esthesioneuroblastoma in pediatric and adolescent age. A report from the TREP project in cooperation with the Italian Neuroblastoma and Soft Tissue Sarcoma Committees

Background

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is a rare, aggressive tumor with no established treatment in children. We analyzed a series of pediatric ENB patients with the aim of improving our knowledge of this disease.

Methods

9 patients (6 males; age 0.9-18 years, median 9.9) were identified by searching the AIEOP (Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology) registry and the national databases of rare tumors, soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and neuroblastomas. The data on the cases included in STS treatment protocols were collected prospectively and histology was centrally reviewed; the data and histology concerning the other children were reviewed for the purpose of this analysis.

Results

All tumors occurred in the sinonasal region with bone erosion (7 patients) and intracranial (4) or intraorbital (4) extension. Three patients were in Kadish stage B, and 6 in stage C. Complete tumor resection was very difficult to achieve, but adding chemotherapy and radiotherapy enabled tumor control in 8 patients. Response to chemotherapy was evident in 5/7 evaluable cases. Radiotherapy (48.5-60 Gy) was delivered in all children but one, due to early disease progression. With a median follow-up of 13.4 years (range 9.2-22.9), 7 patients are alive in 1^st and one in 2nd complete remission. All surviving patients developed treatment-related sequelae, the most frequent being endocrine dysfunctions (4 patients) and craniofacial growth impairments (4 patients).

Conclusions

Our findings confirm that ENB in children has an aggressive presentation, but multimodal therapy can cure most patients. Our results are encouraging but future strategies must optimize treatment in terms of survival and related morbidities.

Endoscopic skull base surgery for sinonasal malignancy

Management of malignant neoplasms of the sinonasal tract and skull base is hampered by the relative low incidence and pathologic diversity of patient presentations. Many studies have reported successful outcomes in the endoscopic management of malignancy since 1996, and these are summarized in this article. Nonsurgical adjuvant therapies are important for locoregional control because surgery occurs in a restricted anatomic space with close margins to critical structures, and distant disease is an ongoing concern in these disorders. There remains a need for collaborative consistent multicenter reporting, and international registries have been established to assist in such efforts.

Olfactory neuroblastomas: an experience of 24 years

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinicopathological findings and the efficacy of the treatment modalities used in patients with olfactory neuroblastomas. Study Design. Retrospective record review. Setting. Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, medical oncology outpatient clinic. Subjects and Methods. There were 3 stage A tumors, 5 stage B and 11 stage C according to the Kadish staging system. There were 5 grade I/II and 12 grade III/IV according to the Hyams' histopathologic system. Involvement to orbita was detected in eight patients at the time of diagnosis. Results. The median follow-up period was 23.7 months. The 5-year survival rate for the whole group was 26%. The stage A/B groups exhibited a better survival rate than the C group with 2-year survival rates being 25 versus 71% respectively (P = .008). The grade I/II groups exhibited a better survival rate than the grade III/IV groups with 2-year survival rates being 50 versus 16% respectively (P = .001). The group who had orbital involvement exhibited a poor survival rate than the group of patients who had no involvement of the orbital. Conclusion. In our study, tumor stage, histopathologic grading, involvement of the orbita, brain and bone marow metastases were the statistically significant prognostic factors.

Posttreatment prognosis of patients with esthesioneuroblastoma

OBJECT

There is no Class I evidence to guide the appropriate management of esthesioneuroblastoma (EN). Most data currently guiding treatment come from small- or modest-sized series gathered at individual centers that have concluded that surgery with radiotherapy is the preferred treatment. In this study, the authors summarize the published literature on treatment outcomes in patients with EN. The objective was to ascertain what variables predict prognosis in these patients and to determine the relative effect of different therapies.

METHODS

The authors identified 205 published studies containing treatment outcomes for surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or multimodal treatment. Using Kaplan-Meier analysis, the survival of patients who received surgery was compared with that in those who received surgery and radiotherapy. Additionally, Kadish staging was compared with low- and high-grade Hyams criteria to assess for subgroup prognostic significance in survival differences.

RESULTS

Nine hundred fifty-six patients met the inclusion criteria, with a median follow-up time of 3 years. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated no difference in survival between patients who underwent surgery alone and those who underwent surgery plus radiotherapy at 5 years (78 vs 75%) or 10 years (67 vs 61%, respectively) (p = 0.3). Univariate analysis demonstrated worse survival in cases involving Kadish Grade C tumors, Hyams Grade 3 and 4 tumors, and in patients older than 65 years of age. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that Hyams Grade 3 and 4 lesions carried significant risk (proportional hazard = 4.83, p < 0.001) with 5- and 10-year survival of 47 and 31%.

CONCLUSIONS

A biopsy should always be obtained in cases suspected of EN because histology is a strong prognostic indicator and will help guide appropriate treatment. Unimodal surgery and combined surgery/radiotherapy appear to be of equivalent efficacy with respect to survival in patients with EN. Chemotherapy should be considered in high-grade EN.

Radiotherapy for esthesioneuroblastoma: is elective nodal irradiation warranted in the multimodality treatment approach?

PURPOSE

The role of elective nodal irradiation (ENI) in radiotherapy for esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) has not been clearly defined. We analyzed treatment outcomes of patients with ENB and the frequency of cervical nodal failure in the absence of ENI.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Between August 1996 and December 2007, we consulted with 19 patients with ENB regarding radiotherapy. Initial treatment consisted of surgery alone in 2 patients; surgery and postoperative radiotherapy in 4; surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy in 1; surgery, postoperative radiotherapy, and chemotherapy in 3; and chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy in 5. Five patients did not receive planned radiotherapy because of disease progression. Including 2 patients who received salvage radiotherapy, 14 patients were treated with radiotherapy. Elective nodal irradiation was performed in 4 patients with high-risk factors, including 3 with cervical lymph node metastasis at presentation.

RESULTS

Fourteen patients were analyzable, with a median follow-up of 27 months (range, 7-64 months). The overall 3-year survival rate was 73.4%. Local failure occurred in 3 patients (21.4%), regional cervical failure in 3 (21.4%), and distant failure in 2 (14.3%). No cervical nodal failure occurred in patients treated with combined systemic chemotherapy regardless of ENI. Three cervical failures occurred in the 4 patients treated with ENI or neck dissection (75%), none of whom received systemic chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

ENI during radiotherapy for ENB seems to play a limited role in preventing cervical nodal failure. Omitting ENI may be an option if patients are treated with a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Outcome and prognostic factors in olfactory neuroblastoma: a rare cancer network study

PURPOSE

To assess the outcome in patients with olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Seventy-seven patients treated for nonmetastatic ONB between 1971 and 2004 were included. According to Kadish classification, there were 11 patients with Stage A, 29 with Stage B, and 37 with Stage C. T-classification included 9 patients with T1, 26 with T2, 16 with T3, 15 with T4a, and 11 with T4b tumors. Sixty-eight patients presented with N0 (88%) disease.

RESULTS

Most of the patients (n = 56, 73%) benefited from surgery (S), and total excision was possible in 44 patients (R0 in 32, R1 in 13, R2 in 11). All but five patients benefited from RT, and chemotherapy was given in 21 (27%). Median follow-up period was 72 months (range, 6-315). The 5-year overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), locoregional control, and local control were 64%, 57%, 62%, and 70%, respectively. In univariate analyses, favorable factors were Kadish A or B disease, T1-T3 tumors, no nodal involvement, curative surgery, R0/R1 resection, and RT-dose 54 Gy or higher. Multivariate analysis revealed that the best independent factors predicting the outcome were T1-T3, N0, R0/R1 resection, and total RT dose (54 Gy or higher).

CONCLUSION

In this multicenter retrospective study, patients with ONB treated with R0 or R1 surgical resection followed by at least 54-Gy postoperative RT had the best outcome. Novel strategies including concomitant chemotherapy and/or higher dose RT should be prospectively investigated in this rare disease for which local failure remains a problem.

Treatment of esthesioneuroblastoma: a 16-year meta-analysis of 361 patients

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

This study reviews the published outcomes related to surgical (open, endoscopic, and endoscopic-assisted) and nonsurgical treatment for esthesioneuroblastoma.

STUDY DESIGN

Literature meta-analysis.

METHODS

A meta-analysis of individual patient data for esthesioneuroblastoma publications between 1992 (the earliest identified description of endoscopic resection) and 2008 was conducted. A total of 49 journal articles, comprising 1,170 cases of esthesioneuroblastoma, were included in the study. Criteria for meta-analysis inclusion were five or more patients in a study with sufficient patient data resolution for analysis. Twenty-three studies comprising 361 patients met all inclusion criteria. The overall treatment and outcome at final follow-up of each patient was recorded. Patients were pooled according to treatment techniques and compared to one another using a Kaplan-Meier survival curve and the Mann-Whitney U test to examine differences in follow-up times and publication years.

RESULTS

Log-rank tests showed a greater published survival rate for endoscopic surgery compared to open surgery (P = .0019), even when stratifying for publication year (P = .0018). There was no significant difference in follow-up time. Review of Kadish tumor staging for each modality showed larger tumors were more often treated with an open approach, but open and endoscopic survival measures were comparable.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that endoscopic surgery is a valid treatment method with comparable survival to open surgery. Further prospective analysis will be beneficial.

A primary sellar esthesioneuroblastomas with unusual presentations: a case report and reviews of literatures

The development of an esthesioneuroblastoma outside to the region in which olfactory epithelium exists is extremely rare. Only nine cases were reported in the previous literatures. The author presents a 40 years-old man with ectopic esthesioneuroblastoma in sella turcica. In contrast to the previous nine cases, our case presented unusual presentations-CSF rhinorrhea and meningitis. Endoscopic transphenoid approach with removal of tumor and repair of dura defect followed by radiotherapy offered a good result in this case. Moreover, differential diagnosis and the origin of the ectopic esthsioneuroblastoma would be discussed.

Cancer of the nasal cavity in the pediatric population

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this work was to investigate the clinical manifestations and diagnostic range of malignant entities presenting as a nasal mass in the pediatric population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted at a specialty hospital and a tertiary care university hospital. Patients aged between birth and 18 years and diagnosed with a malignancy that arose within the nasal cavity between the years 1991 and 2006 were included. This institution-specific patient group was compared with a similar cohort of patients extracted from the national Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database. The main outcome measures were the incidence, presentation, and diagnoses of nasal cancer presenting in this population.

RESULTS

Sixteen patients with nasal malignancies presented institutionally in the defined pediatric age group. Patient age at the time of diagnosis ranged from 7 months to 17 years, with a slight male predominance. The main presenting symptoms were unilateral nasal congestion and ophthalmologic complaints. The median time from presentation to diagnosis was 7 weeks; patients who presented with nonspecific complaints, such as nasal obstruction, headache, and fatigue, were given a diagnosis, on average, later than those who presented with focal manifestations. Nationwide, 47 patients were identified from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database. In both subject groups, the most common diagnoses were rhabdomyosarcoma (37.5% institutionally and 23% in the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results group) and esthesioneuroblastoma (25% institutionally and 28% Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results). In the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results cohort, the overall mean survival rate was 188 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Nasal cancer in the pediatric population often presents with nonspecific signs and symptoms, and a high index of suspicion is necessary for a timely diagnosis. Soft tissue sarcomas are expectedly common. The relative high frequency of esthesioneuroblastoma is particularly noteworthy.

Proton-beam therapy for olfactory neuroblastoma

PURPOSE

To analyze the feasibility and efficacy of proton-beam therapy (PBT) for olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) as a definitive treatment, by reviewing our preliminary experience. Olfactory neuroblastoma is a rare disease, and a standard treatment strategy has not been established. Radiation therapy for ONB is challenging because of the proximity of ONBs to critical organs. Proton-beam therapy can provide better dose distribution compared with X-ray irradiation because of its physical characteristics, and is deemed to be a feasible treatment modality.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A retrospective review was performed on 14 patients who underwent PBT for ONB as definitive treatment at the National Cancer Center Hospital East (Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan) from November 1999 to February 2005. A total dose of PBT was 65 cobalt Gray equivalents (Gy(E)), with 2.5-Gy(E) once-daily fractionations.

RESULTS

The median follow-up period for surviving patients was 40 months. One patient died from disseminated disease. There were two persistent diseases, one of which was successfully salvaged with surgery. The 5-year overall survival rate was 93%, the 5-year local progression-free survival rate was 84%, and the 5-year relapse-free survival rate was 71%. Liquorrhea was observed in one patient with Kadish's stage C disease (widely destroying the skull base). Most patients experienced Grade 1 to 2 dermatitis in the acute phase. No other adverse events of Grade 3 or greater were observed according to the RTOG/EORTC acute and late morbidity scoring system.

CONCLUSIONS

Our preliminary results of PBT for ONB achieved excellent local control and survival outcomes without serious adverse effects. Proton-beam therapy is considered a safe and effective modality that warrants further study.

Esthesioneuroblastoma

Esthesioneuroblastoma is a rare tumor for which the published literature does not provide an evidence-based consensus treatment approach. Multimodality therapy including a combination of surgery and radiation appears to provide the best disease-free and overall survival. Surgical resection should proceed through a craniofacial approach if possible. The role of chemotherapy in the initial treatment paradigm is less clear. Chemotherapy should not be used as single-modality therapy for initial treatment but may provide additional benefit when used in combination with radiation and surgery, particularly in advanced-stage disease. Combination chemotherapy should be considered as initial therapy for unresectable tumors and metastatic disease, and as salvage therapy in disease recurrence.

Antitumor properties of dimethyl-celecoxib, a derivative of celecoxib that does not inhibit cyclooxygenase-2: implications for glioma therapy

✓ Celecoxib (Celebrex) appears to be unique among the class of selective COX-2 inhibitors (coxibs), because this particular compound exerts a second function that is independent of its celebrated ability to inhibit COX-2. This second function is the potential to inhibit cell proliferation and stimulate apoptotic cell death at much lower concentrations than any other coxibs. Intriguingly, these two functions are mediated by different moieties of the celecoxib molecule and can be separated. The author, as well as others, have generated and investigated analogs of celecoxib that retain only one of these two functions. One derivative, 2,5-dimethyl-celecoxib (DMC), which retains the antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing function, but completely lacks the COX-2 inhibitory activity, is able to mimic faithfully all of the numerous antitumor effects of celecoxib that have been investigated so far, including reduction of neovascularization and inhibition of experimental tumor growth in various in vivo tumor models. In view of the controversy that has recently arisen regarding the life-threatening side effects of this class of coxibs, it may be worthwhile to pursue further the potential benefits of drugs such as DMC for anticancer therapy. Because DMC is not a coxib yet potently maintains celecoxib's antitumor potential, one may be inclined to speculate that this novel compound could potentially be advantageous in the management of COX-2–independent cancers. In this summary, the implications of recent findings with DMC will be presented and discussed.

Management of paranasal sinus malignancy

Malignancies of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses represent a wide spectrum of histologies, tissues of origin, and anatomic primary sites. The inherent difficulty in generalizing treatment approaches is obvious, given the numerous variables associated with the broadly-based term, paranasal sinus malignancy (PNSCa). Nevertheless, the majority of epithelial and salivary malignancies of this region (ie, squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma, and esthesioneuroblastoma) require surgical intervention as part of any treatment regimen. Recent trends have broadened the indications for chemotherapeutic and radiotherapeutic options in the management of advanced PNSCa. Nonepithelial malignancies, including the wide variety of sarcomas arising in this region, most commonly require multimodality treatment including chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgery for definitive treatment. Moreover, the proximity of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses to structures including the orbit, dura, brain, cranial nerves, and carotid arteries mandates careful radiologic and neurologic evaluations throughout the course of the disease. Surgical advances now permit complex tumor removal and reconstruction surrounding these structures resulting in functional and cosmetic improvements when compared to earlier techniques. However, additional clinical trials are necessary to systematically evaluate the locoregional control, organ-preservation strategies, and survival related to the variety of treatments currently available.

Combination chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine with continuous-infusion cisplatin and etoposide) and radiotherapy with stem cell support can be beneficial for adolescents and adults with estheisoneuroblastoma

BACKGROUND

Adolescent-onset and adult-onset esthesioneuroblastoma is a rare disease and is considered incurable. In many patients, local resection and radiation are chosen as clinical therapy with or without chemotherapy. It was reported previously that local resection and radiotherapy led to temporary remission and, in many patients, recurrent disease. Although combination with chemotherapy has been regarded as promising, an effective regimen has not been established. In the current study, the authors investigated the effect and tolerability of the combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT).

METHODS

The study population included 12 patients with adolescent-onset and adult-onset esthesioneuroblastoma classified as Kadish Stage A-D. The patients received two cycles of combination chemotherapy, which consisted of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine (CAD) with continuous-infusion cisplatin and etoposide (CVP). This was combined with radiotherapy with or without PBSCT.

RESULTS

Nine of 12 patients (75%) obtained more than a partial response after only 2 cycles of chemotherapy. After radiation with or without PBSCT, six patients obtained a complete remission (CR). The longest survival was > 3 years. All patients who underwent PBSCT obtained a CR. The most severe side effects were loss of sodium and potassium induced by cisplatin-related renal tubular distress. Those abnormalities were temporary, and all patients recovered.

CONCLUSIONS

The chemotherapy regimen with CADO and CVP does not require continuation for a long time and is very effective and tolerable for patients with adolescent-onset and adult-onset esthesioneuroblastoma. The combination with radiotherapy and PBSCT may lead to a CR without facial disfigurement. In this report, the authors discuss the feasibility and efficacy of this multidisciplinary approach.