Building the bridge between rhabdomyosarcoma in children, adolescents and young adults: The road ahead

Van Gaal, J. Carlijn; De Bont, Eveline S.J.M.; Kaal, Suzanne E.J.; Versleijen-Jonkers, Yvonne; van der Graaf, Winette T.A.

doi:10.1016/j.critrevonc.2011.06.005

« Previous Next »Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology
Volume 82, Issue 3 , Pages 259-279, June 2012

Building the bridge between rhabdomyosarcoma in children, adolescents and young adults: The road ahead

J. Carlijn Van Gaal
- Department of Medical Oncology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Beatrix Children's Hospital, Division of Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Eveline S.J.M. De Bont
- Beatrix Children's Hospital, Division of Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
Suzanne E.J. Kaal
- Department of Medical Oncology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Yvonne Versleijen-Jonkers
- Department of Medical Oncology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Winette T.A. van der Graaf
- Department of Medical Oncology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Corresponding author at: Department of Medical Oncology, Internal Postal Code 452, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 24 361 03 53; fax: +31 24 354 07 88.

Accepted 30 June 2011. published online 01 August 2011.

Highlights

► Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) mainly affects children, but also adolescents and (young) adults (AYA). ► As compared to children improvement in survival in AYA lags behind. ► AYA with RMS should be treated in studies whenever available. ► This review provides an overview of RMS at different ages. ► We propose age-independent global collaboration for treatment of RMS.

Abstract

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a rare type of soft tissue sarcoma that mainly affects children, but also occurs in adolescents and (young) adults (AYA). Despite dramatic survival improvements reported by international study groups in children over the past decades, the awareness of a dismal outcome for older patients with RMS has grown. In contrast to the world-wide organization of care for children with RMS, standard care in adults lags behind. A step forward in RMS management for patients of all ages is urgently needed. Both paediatric oncologists and medical oncologists are essential players in development of a concept of RMS care, but bringing two worlds together seems not so easy. This review provides an overview which highlights the similarities and differences in children and adults with RMS. Furthermore, it comes up with a novel concept to overcome the virtual gap between the treatment approach of children and AYA with RMS.

Keywords: Rhabdomyosarcoma, RMS, Age, Adults, Adolescents, AYA, Treatment, Care