title: Does bladder preservation (as a surgical principle) lead to retaining bladder function in bladder/prostate rhabdomyosarcoma? Results from intergroup rhabdomyosarcoma study iv.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We determine patient and tumor characteristics, event-free and overall survival, methods of local control, rate of bladder preservation and proportion with normal bladder function for patients with localized bladder/prostate (BP) rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) treated on the Fourth Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study (IRS IV).
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the records of 90 patients with nonmetastatic BP RMS enrolled on IRS IV for presenting characteristics, details of therapy and outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 90 records 88 had sufficient information for review. Patient age distribution was less than 1 year for 7 patients, 1 to 9 years for 71 and 10 or greater years for 10. Tumors commonly arose in the bladder (70%), had favorable histology (embryonal or botryoid 80%), large (69% greater than 5 cm), unresectable (84% group III) and invasive (56% T2). Local therapy included radiation in 74 patients, and most patients underwent second-look operations after radiation. All patients received alkylating based chemotherapy. With a median followup of 6.1 years there have been 3 second malignancies, 1 toxic death and 18 relapses, for an event-free survival rate of 77%. Bladders were retained without relapse at last contact in 55 patients. Of those 55 patients 36 and of the entire group 40% had normal function determined by history.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Of patients with nonmetastatic BP RMS on IRS IV 82% survived 6 years. Bladder function was preserved in 55% (36/66) of event-free survivors. Of all patients entered on study 40% (36 of 88) survive event-free with apparently normal functioning bladders. More precise long-term evaluation of bladder and sexual function will require application of better tools such as urodynamic studies and validated patient surveys.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA. carndt@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arndt
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rodeberg
authors.forename: Philip P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Breitfeld
authors.forename: R Beverly
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Raney
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ullrich
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Donaldson
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015653:Cystectomy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000502:physiology; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*