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Rhabdomyosarcoma of the extremities present with two main challenges: correct evaluation of initial regional nodal involvement and define adequate local treatment. Methods Pediatric patients with localized rhabdomyosarcoma of the extremity included in the EpSSG‐RMS2005 study between 2005 and 2014 were evaluated for staging, treatment, and survival. The outcome was compared to the preceding European SIOP‐MMT studies. Results Of the 162 patients included, histology was unfavorable in 113 (70%), 124 (77%) were younger than 10 years, 128 (79%) were IRS III, and 47 (29%) were node‐positive. A regional node biopsy was performed in 97 patients (60%) and modified the lymph node stage in 15/97 (16%). Primary and delayed surgery was performed in 155 (96%) and radiotherapy delivered in 118 (73%) patients. Relapse occurred in 61 cases (38%), local in 14 (23%), regional in 13 (21%), distant in 22 (36%), and combined relapse in 12 (20%) with five progressive diseases (8%) and four secondary tumors (7%). Five‐year event free (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 58.4% (95%CI, 50.3‐65.7) and 71.7% (63.6‐78.4), respectively. In the previous studies MMT89 and MMT95, tumor surgery was performed in 32/53 (60%) and 74/82(90%), respectively, and radiotherapy delivered in 13/53 (25%) and 26/82 (30%), respectively. Five‐year EFS and OS were 35.6%, and 50.3% in MMT89 and 54.3% and 68.2% in the MMT95 study. Conclusions Even if the lymph node staging was not always complete according to the RMS2005 protocol, node sampling changed lymph node status in a significant number of patients. Despite the higher rate of patients treated with locoregional radiotherapy, survival in RMS2005 did not improve compared to the previous European SIOP‐MMT95 study., Adequate staging is important for the treatment of extremity RMS. Despite local therapy intensification, survival in RMS2005 did not improve compared to the previous European SIOP‐MMT95 study.

Loss of histone 3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) has been described as a diagnostic marker for malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST), also discriminating MPNST with rhabdomyoblastic differentiation (malignant Triton tumor) from rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). We studied the immunohistochemical expression of H3K27me3 in embryonal RMSs (ERMSs), performed methylation profiling in order to support the diagnosis and RNA-sequencing for comparison of the transcriptome of H3K27me3-positive and -negative cases. Of the 25 ERMS patients, 17 were males and 8 were females with an age range from 1 to 67 years (median, 6 years). None were known with neurofibromatosis type 1. One patient had Li-Fraumeni syndrome. Tumor localization included paratesticular (n = 9), genitourinary (n = 6), head/neck (n = 5), retroperitoneal (n = 4) and lower arm (n = 1). Five MPNSTs served as reference group. All ERMS had classical features including a variable spindle cell component. Immunohistochemical loss (partial or complete) of H3K27me3 was detected in 18/25 cases (72%). Based on methylation profiling, 22/22 cases were classified as ERMS. Using RNA sequencing, the ERMS group (n = 14) had a distinct gene expression profile in contrast to MPNSTs, confirming that the H3K27me3 negative ERMS cases do not represent malignant Triton tumors. When comparing H3K27me3-negative and -positive ERMSs, gene set enrichment analysis revealed differential expression of genes related to histone acetylation and normal muscle function with H3K27me3 negative ERMSs being associated with acetylation. Conclusion: Loss of H3K27me3 frequently occurs in ERMSs and correlates with H3K27 acetylation. H3K27me3 is not a suitable marker to differentiate ERMS (with spindle cell features) from malignant Triton tumor.

Background: Achievement of complete surgical resection plays a key role in the successful treatment of children with hepatoblastoma. The aim of this study is to assess the surgical outcomes after partial liver resections for hepatoblastoma, focusing on postoperative complications, resection margins, 30-day mortality, and long-term survival. Method: Chart reviews were carried out on all patients treated for hepatoblastoma in the Netherlands between 1990 and 2013. Results: A total of 103 patients were included, of whom 94 underwent surgery. Partial hepatectomy was performed in 76 patients and 18 patients received a liver transplant as a primary procedure. In 42 of 73 (58 %) patients, one or more complications were reported. In 3 patients, information regarding complications was not available. Hemorrhage necessitating blood transfusion occurred in 33 (45 %) patients and 9 (12 %) patients developed biliary complications, of whom 8 needed one or more additional surgical interventions. Overall, 5-year disease-specific survival was 82, 92 % in the group of patients who underwent partial hepatectomy, and 77 % in the group of patients who underwent liver transplantation. Conclusions: Partial hepatectomy after chemotherapy in children with hepatoblastoma offers good chances of survival. This type of major surgery is associated with a high rate of surgical complications (58 %), which is not detrimental to survival.