MDB-14. TREATMENT AND OUTCOMES OF MEDULLOBLASTOMA: FIRST REPORT FROM ARMENIA

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND Medulloblastoma accounts for approximately 20% of all primary CNS tumors. Although advanced diagnostic tools and risk-adjusted treatment regimens produce a more than 70% five-year overall survival in HICs the data from LMICs is scarce. This study analyzed the outcome of children with medulloblastoma treated in Armenia. METHODS Demographic and treatment data was collected from medical records of pediatric and young adult patients (≤ 25 years) treated in four major centers in Armenia from 1995-2023. Event-free survival and overall survival were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS During the study period 41 patients with medulloblastoma were registered (20.7% of primary CNS tumors), male-to-female ratio 1.73:1. The median age at diagnosis was 8 years (range: 0.83-25 years). Most common presenting symptoms were nausea and vomiting (82.5%), headache (75%) and ataxia (50%). Metastatic status was evaluated (spinal MRI and CSF cytology) in 48.8% of patients (25% M+ disease). Risk assessment was available for 30 patients (12 standard-risk and 18 high-risk). All patients underwent surgery, gross-total or near-total resection was achieved in 53.7% of cases. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy given to 63.4% and 58.5% of cases, respectively. Of 8 infants included in this study 4 were treated with chemotherapy only, 3 died without further treatment. Median time from surgery to RT/chemotherapy was 6 weeks. Five-year EFS and OS were estimated 58.3% (95% CI 37.5-71%) and 62.5% (95% CI 43.75-77.1%), respectively. Patients with GTR/NTR had a higher OS than patients with STR (83.3% vs 33.3%, p=0.005). No statistically significant difference in EFS/OS was detected based on risk group, metastatic status, or completion of the protocol. CONCLUSIONS OS was lower than expected in this study. Accurate risk assessment and risk-stratified treatment were often lacking during the study period. Compliance to the standardized treatment protocols and multidisciplinary care are needed for improving outcomes of medulloblastoma.