title: Clinical outcome of rhabdomyosarcoma in adolescent and adult patients: single center experience from Turkey.
abstract: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is rare disease in adults (age >or= 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 >or= 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 (>or= 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Istanbul University Institute of Oncology, Istanbul, Turkey. zekiustuner@superonline.com
authors.forename: Zeki
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ustuner
authors.forename: Mert
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basaran
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dizdar
authors.forename: Fulya Yaman
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Agaoglu
authors.forename: Bilge
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bilgic
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sakar
authors.forename: Gul Atalay
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Basaran
authors.forename: Emin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Darendeliler
authors.forename: Harzem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozger
authors.forename: Haluk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Onat
authors.forename: Sevil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bavbek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase