TY - JOUR
T1 - Brachytherapy for localized rhabdomyosarcoma
T2 - results from the European paediatric soft tissue sarcoma study group RMS2005 trial
AU - Dávila Fajardo, Raquel
AU - Espenel, Sophie
AU - Scarzello, Giovanni
AU - Chargari, Cyrus
AU - Mandeville, Henry C.
AU - Hoskin, Peter J.
AU - Terlizzi, Mario
AU - Boutros, Maria
AU - Kroon, Petra S.
AU - Boterberg, Tom
AU - Ramos, Monica
AU - Coppadoro, Beatrice
AU - Zanetti, Ilaria
AU - Braunius, Weibel
AU - Smeulders, Naima
AU - van Scheltinga, Sheila Terwisscha
AU - ter Horst, Simone A.J.
AU - Guérin, Florent
AU - Minard-Colin, Veronique
AU - Merks, Johannes H.M.
AU - Bisogno, Gianni
AU - Gaze, Mark N.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2026
PY - 2026/12
Y1 - 2026/12
N2 - Background: Brachytherapy (BT) is an alternative radiotherapy modality for carefully selected patients with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). The results of the use of BT in the European paediatric Soft tissue sarcoma Study Group (EpSSG) RMS2005 trial were analysed. Methods: All consecutive patients with RMS registered and treated in the EpSSG RMS2005 trial whose local therapy involved BT were included. Endpoints were 5-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS). Additionally, a pattern of relapse analysis was performed. Results: One hundred and eighteen patients received BT and had full available data. Median age at diagnosis was 2.6 years (range 68 days – 17.2 years). With a median follow-up of 9.2 years (range 39.8 – 188.2 months), 19 patients developed an event, either local (n = 14, where n = 8 in field), regional (n = 2), metastatic (n = 1) or second malignancy (n = 2). The 5-year EFS and OS were 84% and 97%, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found based on IRS group, BT type (interstitial vs. intracavitary vs. both), dose rate (high- vs. pulsed- vs. low-), nor applied physical dose (≤ 40 Gy vs. ≥ 40 Gy). A lower 5-year EFS for orbit cases was noted (60%), but the 5-year OS (100%) was good. Conclusions: The outcome of patients with RMS treated with BT in the EpSSG RMS2005 trial is excellent. Our results support the continuation of use of BT in suitable RMS cases. Careful selection of patients and treatment delivery by experienced teams are mandatory.
AB - Background: Brachytherapy (BT) is an alternative radiotherapy modality for carefully selected patients with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). The results of the use of BT in the European paediatric Soft tissue sarcoma Study Group (EpSSG) RMS2005 trial were analysed. Methods: All consecutive patients with RMS registered and treated in the EpSSG RMS2005 trial whose local therapy involved BT were included. Endpoints were 5-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS). Additionally, a pattern of relapse analysis was performed. Results: One hundred and eighteen patients received BT and had full available data. Median age at diagnosis was 2.6 years (range 68 days – 17.2 years). With a median follow-up of 9.2 years (range 39.8 – 188.2 months), 19 patients developed an event, either local (n = 14, where n = 8 in field), regional (n = 2), metastatic (n = 1) or second malignancy (n = 2). The 5-year EFS and OS were 84% and 97%, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found based on IRS group, BT type (interstitial vs. intracavitary vs. both), dose rate (high- vs. pulsed- vs. low-), nor applied physical dose (≤ 40 Gy vs. ≥ 40 Gy). A lower 5-year EFS for orbit cases was noted (60%), but the 5-year OS (100%) was good. Conclusions: The outcome of patients with RMS treated with BT in the EpSSG RMS2005 trial is excellent. Our results support the continuation of use of BT in suitable RMS cases. Careful selection of patients and treatment delivery by experienced teams are mandatory.
KW - Brachytherapy
KW - Childhood cancer
KW - Paediatrics
KW - Radiotherapy
KW - Rhabdomyosarcoma
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105048175429
U2 - 10.1016/j.ejcped.2026.100549
DO - 10.1016/j.ejcped.2026.100549
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105048175429
SN - 2772-610X
VL - 8
JO - EJC Paediatric Oncology
JF - EJC Paediatric Oncology
M1 - 100549
ER -