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This mono-institutional observational study was conducted to determine incidence, severity, risk factors, and outcome of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome/veno-occlusive disease (SOS/VOD) in high-risk Ewing sarcoma (ES) patients treated with intravenous busulfan and melphalan (BU-MEL) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). During the past 10 years, 75 consecutive ES patients resulted evaluable for the analysis. After diagnosis of SOS/VOD, defibrotide therapy was started as soon as the medication was available. The variables analyzed as potential risk factors were: gender, patient's age at diagnosis, primary tumor site, disease stage, and prior radiation therapy (RT) given, focusing on RT liver exposure. The median age at diagnosis was 18.8 years. Five patients developed moderate to severe SOS/VOD (cumulative incidence, 6.67%). None of 32 pediatric patients (≤17 years) developed SOS/VOD (p = 0.0674). In univariate analysis, prior RT liver exposure resulted statistically significant (p = 0.0496). There was one death due to severe SOS/VOD. This study reports the largest series of high-risk ES patients treated with intravenous BU-MEL before ASCT. The incidence of SOS/VOD was lower when compared with other studies that used oral busulfan. Any prior RT liver exposure should be avoided. Earlier defibrotide treatment confirms to be effective.

e23564 Background: Activity of temozolomide (TEM) and irinotecan (IRI) in recurrent Ewing sarcoma (EWS) was demonstrated. Few data are available on TEMIRI use upfront. Biological predictive factors are lacking. Methods: This multi-institutional retrospective study (NCT03542097) included 59 patients with EWS. 8 patients with very high risk (HR) EWS (multivisceral ± bone marrow) received TEMIRI (TEM 100 mg/m2/day oral, and IRI 40 mg/m2/day intravenous, days 1-5, every 21 days) upfront, 51 patients after relapse (28% in 1st line, 72% ≥ 2nd line). Overall response rate (ORR: CR+PR), SD, and PD, progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed. The relationship between pre-treatment expression of MGMT and ABCG2 (when FFPE tissue available) with ORR, PFS and OS was evaluated. Results: Median age was 27 years (range 4-62 years): 47 patients (80%) were adults (≥18 years), 35 (61%) had ECOG 0 and 42 (71%) presented with multivisceral disease (+ bone marrow in 5). MGMT was positive in 16/30 (53%), ABCG2 in 4/33 (12%). ORR for upfront TEMIRI (n = 8) was 50% (CR + PR = 1 + 3), with SD 50%, while in recurrent EWS (n = 49, 2 patients no measurable by RECIST) ORR was 31% (CR + PR = 4 + 11), SD 38%, and PD 31%. A better ORR was observed in adult (p = 0.008) & ECOG 0 (p = 0.001) patients; MGMT & ABCG2 expression did not influence ORR. 6-mos PFS was 87% after TEMIRI upfront, 43% at recurrence (p = 0.06), and 65% vs 28% (p = 0.02) for ECOG 0 vs ECOG 1-2, respectively. 6-mos PFS was 62% in MGMT+ vs 33% in MGMT- (p = 0.4) and 75% in ABCG2+ vs 50% in ABCG2- (p = 0.7). Median time to progression (TTP) with upfront TEMIRI was 9 months (range 5-28 months), with 1 patient with ongoing CR at 56 months; median TTP at relapse was 3 months (1-29 months). MGMT and ABCG2 expression did not influence 1-yr OS, whereas ECOG (0 vs 1-2) did (88% vs 31% p < 0.001). Grade 3-4 diarrhea, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia incidence was < 5%, 1 patient with recurrent kidney EWS died of acute liver failure. Conclusions: TEMIRI showed promising activity in a very unfavorable cohort of EWS patients, with manageable toxicity. Performance status correlated with 6-month PFS & OS whereas MGMT & ABCG2 did not. Clinical trial information: NCT03542097 .

Background: Post-relapse survival (PRS) was evaluated in patients with Ewing sarcoma (EWS) enrolled in chemotherapy protocols based on the use of high-dose chemotherapy with busulfan and melfalan (HDT) as a first-line consolidation treatment in high-risk patients. Procedure: EWS patients enrolled in ISG/SSG III and IV trials who relapsed after complete remission were included in the analysis. At recurrence, chemotherapy based on high-dose ifosfamide was foreseen, and patients who responded but had not received HDT underwent consolidation therapy with HDT. Results: Data from 107 EWS patients were included in the analysis. Median time to recurrence (RFI) was 18 months, and 45 (42%) patients had multiple sites of recurrence. Patients who had previously been treated with HDT had a significantly (P=0.02) shorter RFI and were less likely to achieve a second complete remission (CR2). CR2 status was achieved by 42 (39%) patients. Fifty patients received high-dose IFO (20 went to consolidation HDT). The 5-year PRS was 19% (95% CI 11 to 27%). With CR2, the 5-year PRS was 48% (95% CI 31 to 64%). Without CR2, median time to death was six months (range 1-45 months). According to the multivariate analysis, patients younger than 15 years, recurrence to the lung only, and RFI longer than 24 months significantly influenced the probability of PRS. Conclusions: Age, pattern of recurrence, RFI, and response to second-line chemotherapy influence post-relapse survival in patients with recurrent Ewing sarcoma. No survival advantage was observed from chemotherapy consolidation with HDT. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:994-999.

BACKGROUND:: The incidence of central venous catheter (CVC)-related complications reported in pediatric sarcoma patients is not established as reports in available literature are limited. The analysis of risk factors is part of the strategy to reduce the incidence of CVC complications. OBJECTIVE:: The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of CVC complications in children with bone sarcomas and if defined clinical variables represent a risk factor. METHODS:: During an 8-year period, 155 pediatric patients with bone sarcomas were prospectively followed up for CVC complications. Incidence and correlation with clinical features including gender, age, body mass index, histology, disease stage, and use of thromboprophylaxis with low-molecular-weight heparin were analyzed. RESULTS:: Thirty-three CVC complications were recorded among 42 687 CVC-days (0.77 per 1000 CVC-days). No correlation between the specific clinical variables and the CVC complications was found. A high incidence of CVC-related sepsis secondary to gram-negative bacteria was observed. CONCLUSIONS:: The analysis of CVC complications and their potential risk factors in this sizable and relatively homogeneous pediatric population with bone sarcomas has led to the implementation of a multimodal approach by doctors and nurses to reduce the incidence and morbidity of the CVC-related infections, particularly those related to gram-negative bacteria. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:: As a result of this joint medical and nursing study, a multimodal approach that included equipping faucets with water filters, the reeducation of doctors and nurses, and the systematic review of CVC protocol was implemented. © 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.