The role of chromosomal translocation (15;19) in the carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract in children.
OBJECTIVE
To further evaluate the role of chromosomal translocation (15;19) in the presentation of the carcinoma (CA) of the upper aerodigestive tract.


METHODS
A retrospective study at a tertiary care pediatric medical center.


RESULTS
Seven patients with a mean age of 12 years presented with CA of nasopharynx (N = 2), sinonasal region (N = I), parotid gland (N = 2), or larynx (N = 2). Treatments included combinations of surgery (N = 5), chemotherapy (N = 5), and radiation therapy (N = 4). One patient with sinonasal CA and one patient with laryngeal CA had chromosomal translocation (15;19); these patients both died of their disease with a mean survival of 6 months. The 5 patients without translocation (15;19) responded well to treatment and are disease-free with a mean follow-up of 47 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The preliminary results appear to indicate poor prognosis associated with the presentation of chromosomal translocation (15;19) despite aggressive multi-modality treatment. Further investigation is needed to better understand the cause and relationship of the translocation (15;19) and aggressive behavior of these tumors.
Rahbar
Reza
R
Department of Otolaryngology, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. reza.rahbar@childrens.edu
Vargas
Sara O
SO
Miyamoto
Christopher R
CR
Perez-Atayde
Antonio R
AR
French
Christopher A
CA
Robson
Caroline D
CD
Licameli
Greg R
GR
Fletcher
Jonathan A
JA
Marcus
Karen C
KC
Grier
Holcombe E
HE
McGill
Trevor J
TJ
Healy
Gerald B
GB
D000293:Adolescent; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002901:Chromosomes, Human, 13-15; D002903:Chromosomes, Human, 19-20; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014178:Translocation, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*