Cardiac function in pediatric Ewing sarcoma during and after treatment: A longitudinal study.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Cardiology
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Anthracycline therapy improves Ewing sarcoma outcomes but poses risks of severe cardiac dysfunction.
• Evaluating the prevalence and contributing factors of cardiac dysfunction in pediatric Ewing sarcoma (pES) is critical.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the incidence and identify determinants of cardiac dysfunction in pediatric patients with Ewing sarcoma.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 650 pediatric patients (0-18 years) treated with the EFT 2001 protocol (anthracycline-containing regimen).
• Cardiac dysfunction defined as left ventricular ejection fraction <50%.
• Data collected from January 2001 to December 2018.

Main Results:

• 13% of patients (85/650) developed cardiac dysfunction at a median of 13 months post-treatment.
• Cumulative incidence reached 15% by 10 years; 24.7% of affected patients experienced LV function normalization.
• Risk factors identified: older age at diagnosis, female sex, undernutrition, and chest wall tumor location.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric Ewing sarcoma patients exhibit a significant incidence of cardiac dysfunction, persisting long after therapy.
• Undernutrition is a key risk factor, necessitating close monitoring in affected children.
• Long-term cardiac surveillance is essential for managing potential long-term complications.