Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2007, 213(3)

Clinical Outcome of Rhabdomyosarcoma in Adolescent and Adult Patients: Single Center Experience from Turkey

ZEKI USTUNER,¹ MERT BASARAN,¹ YAVUZ DIZDAR,² FULYA YAMAN AGAOGLU,² BILGE BILGIC,⁴ BURAK SAKAR,¹ GUL ATALAY BASARAN,³ EMIN DARENDELILER,² HARZEM OZGER,⁵ HALUK ONAT¹ and SEVIL BAVBEK¹

¹Department of Medical Oncology, Istanbul University Institute of Oncology, Istanbul, Turkey
²Department of Radiotherapy, Istanbul University Institute of Oncology, Istanbul, Turkey
³Department of Medical Oncology, Marmara University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
⁴Department of Pathology, Istanbul University Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey
⁵Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Istanbul University Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is rare disease in adults (age ≥ 16 years). The data from randomized prospective trials are scarce; the clinical outcome of these patients seems poor with the currently available treatment strategies. In this study, we report a single institution's experience in the treatment of adult RMS. We reviewed the medical records of patients with RMS who were ≥ 16 years and have been treated in our institution between 1988 and 2003 retrospectively. We analyzed the survival outcome of these patients and the prognostic impact of clinical/pathological factors on their survival. In total, 23 patients with RMS were identified. Median age was 26 years (range, 16-72 years). Majority of patients were male (n: 17, 73.9%), and had large tumors (≥ 5 cm, n: 13, 56.5%), localized disease (N0, M0, n: 12, 52.2%), and embryonal histology (n: 10, 43.5%). Median overall survival was 31.3 months, and the 3-year progression-free survival and overall survival rates were 19.9% and 34.94%, respectively. Patients with smaller tumors (< 5 cm) (p < 0.04), local disease (p < 0.01), and normal lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) level (p < 0.01) at the time of diagnosis were found to have better survival outcome. The tumor size, serum LDH level, and metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis are potential predictors of outcome in patients with adult RMS. Adult RMS is an aggressive disease with poor survival despite treatment. The data from prospective, randomized multicenter trials are necessary in order to improve the clinical outcome of adult RMS patients.

keywords —— rhabdomyosarcoma; adult; lactic dehydrogenase; survival; adolescent

© 2007 Tohoku University Medical Press

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Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2007, 213, 221-229

Correspondence: Zeki Ustuner, M.D., Sumer Mah Cirali Sok 7/4, Eskisehir, Turkey.

e-mail: zekiustuner@superonline.com