Prognostic factor analysis of stage 4S neuroblastoma in infant patients: A single center study

Stage 4S neuroblastoma is a unique category of metastatic disease in infants with a favorable outlook. The purpose of this study was to clarify the prognostic factors of patients with stage 4S neuroblastoma.

Data were retrospectively collected from infant patients with stage 4S neuroblastoma in our department from May 2000 to May 2018. Patient characteristics, operative variables, perioperative outcomes, overall survival (OS), and recurrence were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the prognostic factors of stage 4S neuroblastoma.

A total of 28 infant patients (71. 4% males) with a mean age of 3.7 ± 2.7 months were recruited. The involved metastatic sites included liver (n = 18), skin (n = 9), and bone marrow (n = 5). Nine patients received biopsy, and 14 patients underwent original lesions resection followed by postchemotherapy. Five patients accompanied with abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) were given experiential chemotherapy. The follow-up time ranged from 12 M to 156 M, with a mean of 32 months. Twenty-two patients completed treatment and survived. Two patients were still under treatment. Four patients died, including three with ACS. No recurrence was observed. According to Kaplan-Meier method, the 5-year overall survival was 84.4%. ACS (p = 0.001) and chemotherapy sensitivity (p < 0.001) were associated with all causes of mortality of stage 4S neuroblastoma, while neuroblastoma liver metastasis (P = 0.107), skin metastasis (P = 0.137), bone marrow metastasis (P = 0.89), tumor radical resection (P = 0.202), prenatal diagnosis (P = 0.314), and younger than 2 months of age (P = 0.683) did not emerge as prognostic factors.

ACS and chemotherapy sensitivity were highly important factors that had an association with the prognosis of stage 4S neuroblastoma.

Prognosis study.

Level IV.