Patterns of Care and Survival of Wilms Tumor in Children in India: A Retrospective Multicentric INPHOG Study

Renal cancers are rare in children, accounting 6-7% of childhood tumors. In India, there is paucity of data on renal tumors including Wilms tumor (WT).

To describe the patterns of care of children with WT; 1, 3, and 5 year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS).

Retrospective analysis (InPOG-WT-18-02) of data of children (<18 years) with WT from 17 pediatric-oncology centers between January 2010 and June 2021.

A total of 404 children (male:female, 1.4:1) with WT were included in the study. The majority (74%) were less than 4 years of age (median age 27 months). The most common presentation was abdominal distension/incidental mass (91%). Other presentations (9%) included fever, weight loss, hematuria, hypertension, and others. Unilateral tumors were seen in 91.6%, bilateral tumors in 7.4%. Metastatic disease was seen in 63 (15.6%) children, common sites being lung (82.5%), liver (17.5%), and bone (6.4%). The International Society of Pediatric Oncology protocol was used in 58% of patients. Twelve children (3%) abandoned the treatment. For the remaining 392 cases, follow-up ranged from 1 to 144 months. Relapse/progression was seen in 44 children (10.9%). Mortality was 6.7%. Relapse with discontinuation of treatment was the most common cause of death (3.7%), followed by death from progression on treatment (1.3%). Treatment-related mortality was 1.7%. The 1, 3, and 5 year OS was 95.3, 92.4, and 91.5%, respectively. The 1, 3, and 5 year EFS was 91.8, 87.2, and 85.9%, respectively. Older age at diagnosis (>4 years), stage IV disease, site of metastasis other than lung, no chemotherapy, and no surgery were associated with unfavorable outcomes.

A multidisciplinary approach with surgery, chemotherapy, supportive care, and radiotherapy results in good outcomes for WT in India.