Pediatric NUT-midline carcinoma: Therapeutic success employing a sarcoma based multimodal approach

Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2017 May;34(4):231-237. doi: 10.1080/08880018.2017.1363839. Epub 2017 Oct 17.

Abstract

A subset of poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas, NUT midline carcinomas (NMC) are characterized by a translocation t(15;19)(q13;p13) [ 1 ]. The prognosis is generally dismal [ 2 ] and therapeutic success has been limited to exceptional cases [ 3 ]. We present two cases of pediatric NMC from two different institutions treated according to a multimodal sarcoma approach involving surgery, chemotherapy, and focal radiotherapy. One patient has remained in complete continuous remission for over 6 years, while the other is in CR in early follow-up off therapy. Our proposed multimodal strategy apparently meets the aggressive biologic nature of NMC and should be considered for further evaluation in this context potentially in the setting of a clinical trial.

Keywords: NUT midline carcinoma; Rare tumors; multimodal therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / therapy*
  • Child
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 / genetics
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19 / genetics
  • Combined Modality Therapy / methods
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Tongue Neoplasms / genetics
  • Tongue Neoplasms / pathology
  • Tongue Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Translocation, Genetic*