Global Retinoblastoma Presentation and Analysis by National Income Level.

Importance: Early diagnosis of retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular cancer, can save both a child's life and vision. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that many children across the world are diagnosed late. To our knowledge, the clinical presentation of retinoblastoma has never been assessed on a global scale. Objectives: To report the retinoblastoma stage at diagnosis in patients across the world during a single year, to investigate associations between clinical variables and national income level, and to investigate risk factors for advanced disease at diagnosis. Design, Setting, and Participants: A total of 278 retinoblastoma treatment centers were recruited from June 2017 through December 2018 to participate in a cross-sectional analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed in 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: Age at presentation, proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, and tumor stage and metastasis. Results: The cohort included 4351 new patients from 153 countries; the median age at diagnosis was 30.5 (interquartile range, 18.3-45.9) months, and 1976 patients (45.4%) were female. Most patients (n = 3685 [84.7%]) were from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Globally, the most common indication for referral was leukocoria (n = 2638 [62.8%]), followed by strabismus (n = 429 [10.2%]) and proptosis (n = 309 [7.4%]). Patients from high-income countries (HICs) were diagnosed at a median age of 14.1 months, with 656 of 666 (98.5%) patients having intraocular retinoblastoma and 2 (0.3%) having metastasis. Patients from low-income countries were diagnosed at a median age of 30.5 months, with 256 of 521 (49.1%) having extraocular retinoblastoma and 94 of 498 (18.9%) having metastasis. Lower national income level was associated with older presentation age, higher proportion of locally advanced disease and distant metastasis, and smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma. Advanced disease at diagnosis was more common in LMICs even after adjusting for age (odds ratio for low-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 17.92 [95% CI, 12.94-24.80], and for lower-middle-income countries vs upper-middle-income countries and HICs, 5.74 [95% CI, 4.30-7.68]). Conclusions and Relevance: This study is estimated to have included more than half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017. Children from LMICs, where the main global retinoblastoma burden lies, presented at an older age with more advanced disease and demonstrated a smaller proportion of familial history of retinoblastoma, likely because many do not reach a childbearing age. Given that retinoblastoma is curable, these data are concerning and mandate intervention at national and international levels. Further studies are needed to investigate factors, other than age at presentation, that may be associated with advanced disease in LMICs

Travel burden and clinical presentation of retinoblastoma: analysis of 1024 patients from 43 African countries and 518 patients from 40 European countries

BACKGROUND: The travel distance from home to a treatment centre, which may impact the stage at diagnosis, has not been investigated for retinoblastoma, the most common childhood eye cancer. We aimed to investigate the travel burden and its impact on clinical presentation in a large sample of patients with retinoblastoma from Africa and Europe. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis including 518 treatment-naïve patients with retinoblastoma residing in 40 European countries and 1024 treatment-naïve patients with retinoblastoma residing in 43 African countries. RESULTS: Capture rate was 42.2% of expected patients from Africa and 108.8% from Europe. African patients were older (95% CI -12.4 to -5.4, p<0.001), had fewer cases of familial retinoblastoma (95% CI 2.0 to 5.3, p<0.001) and presented with more advanced disease (95% CI 6.0 to 9.8, p<0.001); 43.4% and 15.4% of Africans had extraocular retinoblastoma and distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis, respectively, compared to 2.9% and 1.0% of the Europeans. To reach a retinoblastoma centre, European patients travelled 421.8 km compared to Africans who travelled 185.7 km (p<0.001). On regression analysis, lower-national income level, African residence and older age (p<0.001), but not travel distance (p=0.19), were risk factors for advanced disease. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer than half the expected number of patients with retinoblastoma presented to African referral centres in 2017, suggesting poor awareness or other barriers to access. Despite the relatively shorter distance travelled by African patients, they presented with later-stage disease. Health education about retinoblastoma is needed for carers and health workers in Africa in order to increase capture rate and promote early referral

Mutation Spectrum of <i>RB1</i> Gene in Unilateral Retinoblastoma Cases from Tunisia and Correlations with Clinical Features

<div><p>Retinoblastoma, an embryonic neoplasm of retinal origin, is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in children. Somatic inactivation of both alleles of the <i>RB1</i> tumor suppressor gene in a retinal progenitor cell through diverse mechanisms including genetic and epigenetic modifications, is the crucial event in initiation of tumorigenesis in most cases of isolated unilateral retinoblastoma. We analyzed DNA from tumor tissue and from peripheral blood to determine the <i>RB1</i> mutation status and seek correlations with clinical features of 37 unrelated cases of Tunisian origin with sporadic retinoblastoma. All cases were unilateral except one who presented with bilateral disease, in whom no germline coding sequence alteration was identified. A multi-step mutation scanning protocol identified bi-allelic inactivation of <i>RB1</i> gene in 30 (81%) of the samples tested. A total of 7 novel mutations were identified. There were three tumors without any detectable mutation while a subset contained multiple mutations in <i>RB1</i> gene. The latter group included tumors collected after treatment with chemotherapy. There were seven individuals with germline mutations and all presented with advanced stage of tumor. There was no difference in age of onset of RB based on the germline mutation status. Thus 20% of the individuals with sporadic unilateral RB in this series carried germline mutations and indicate the importance of genetic testing all children with sporadic retinoblastoma. These findings help to characterize the spectrum of mutations present in the Tunisian population and can improve genetic diagnosis of retinoblastoma.</p></div

Frequency of somatic RB1 mutations in RB Tunisian patients (not including LOH).

<p>Frequency of somatic RB1 mutations in RB Tunisian patients (not including LOH).</p

Correlation between tumor stage and presence or absence of germline RB1 mutation.

<p>Correlation between tumor stage and presence or absence of germline RB1 mutation.</p

Somatic variations of unknown signficance identified within <i>RB1</i> gene.

<p>Nucleotide numbering for genomic DNA and cDNA are according to GenBank accession numbers L11910.1 and NM_000321.2, respectively. Amino acid numbering refers to the reference sequence for pRB protein, NP_000312.2.</p><p>Somatic variations of unknown signficance identified within <i>RB1</i> gene.</p

Travel burden and clinical presentation of retinoblastoma: analysis of 1024 patients from 43 African countries and 518 patients from 40 European countries

BackgroundThe travel distance from home to a treatment centre, which may impact the stage at diagnosis, has not been investigated for retinoblastoma, the most common childhood eye cancer. We aimed to investigate the travel burden and its impact on clinical presentation in a large sample of patients with retinoblastoma from Africa and Europe.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis including 518 treatment-naïve patients with retinoblastoma residing in 40 European countries and 1024 treatment-naïve patients with retinoblastoma residing in 43 African countries.ResultsCapture rate was 42.2% of expected patients from Africa and 108.8% from Europe. African patients were older (95% CI −12.4 to −5.4, p&lt;0.001), had fewer cases of familial retinoblastoma (95% CI 2.0 to 5.3, p&lt;0.001) and presented with more advanced disease (95% CI 6.0 to 9.8, p&lt;0.001); 43.4% and 15.4% of Africans had extraocular retinoblastoma and distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis, respectively, compared to 2.9% and 1.0% of the Europeans. To reach a retinoblastoma centre, European patients travelled 421.8 km compared to Africans who travelled 185.7 km (p&lt;0.001). On regression analysis, lower-national income level, African residence and older age (p&lt;0.001), but not travel distance (p=0.19), were risk factors for advanced disease.ConclusionsFewer than half the expected number of patients with retinoblastoma presented to African referral centres in 2017, suggesting poor awareness or other barriers to access. Despite the relatively shorter distance travelled by African patients, they presented with later-stage disease. Health education about retinoblastoma is needed for carers and health workers in Africa in order to increase capture rate and promote early referral.</jats:sec

Retinoblastoma outcomes in Europe: a prospective analysis of 483 patients from 40 countries

Purpose: To describe presentation, treatment and outcomes for a cohort of children presenting with retinoblastoma (Rb) throughout Europe during 2017. Methods: A prospective analysis of 483 patients diagnosed in Europe between Jan 1, 2017, and Dec 31, 2017, then treated and followed up for 3 years. Results: Unilateral cases 339/483 (70%) predominated, presenting older (mean age 26 months) than the 144 (30%) bilateral cases (mean age 12 months p < 0.0005). Only 4/477 (0.8%) children had extra-ocular Rb at presentation (mean age 53 months vs 21 months for those without p = 0.002). Children from middle income countries did not present older, but were more likely (p < 0.001) to present with late-stage disease (3-4) than high-income children (74/151 (49%) vs 108/332 (33%), RR 1.25 95%CI 1.09–1.44). For unilaterals, primary treatment was intravenous chemotherapy (IVC) in 29% and intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) in 20%. For bilaterals, primary treatment was IVC in 113/144 (78%) and IAC in 14/144 (10%). Overall, 58% of children underwent enucleation, 36% of which as primary treatment. Risk of enucleation was determined by stage and laterality, but not economic status. Twelve (2.5%) children died from Rb. More children (OR = 146-7 13.9–1549.4, p < 0.0005) presenting with extra-ocular tumour died (3 of 4 (75%)) than with intra-ocular tumour (9/449 (2%)) More children (OR = 29.8 3.8–232.0, p < 0.0005), from middle income countries died from Rb (11/132 (8%)) than from high income countries (1/327 (0.3%)). Conclusion: Even within a wealthy continent such as Europe, economic factors may influence survival, but not global salvage rates. The majority of children still lose an eye