Treatment and survival of childhood neuroblastoma: Evidence from a population-based study in the United States

ABSTRACTBackground: Childhood neuroblastoma describes a heterogeneous group of extracranial solid tumors, that are treated per risk profile. We sought to describe treatment patterns and survival using population-based data from throughout the United States.Materials and Methods: Using the National Cancer Institute (NCI)'s Patterns of Care data, we analyzed treatment provided to newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed neuroblastoma patients in 2010 and 2011, registered to one of 14 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registries. Data were re-abstracted from hospital records and treating physicians contacted for verification. Application of the Children's Oncology Group (COG)'s 3-level (low, intermediate and high) neuroblastoma risk classification system for therapeutic decision-making provided insight to community-based treatment patterns. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses, based on 5-years of follow-up, were also performed.Results: 76% of the 250 patients were enrolled on an open/acti...