Background
Distinct prognostic factors for Wilms tumor (WT) in low‐ and middle‐income countries need identification.
Methods
Retrospective study of patients with WT managed by the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) approach for over 11 years (2005–2016) at a single center in Chandigarh, India.
Results
The study included 200 patients (median age: 33.5 months). The tumor stage (SIOP) distribution included stage I (30%), II (36%), III (14%), IV (17%), and V (3%). The histology‐risk groups were low (8%), intermediate (84%), and high risk (9%). At diagnosis, 68 out of 190 (36%) patients were underweight. The median tumor volume at diagnosis was 481 ml (interquartile ratio [IQR]: 306.9, 686.8, n = 146). Following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, it reduced to 110 ml (IQR: 151.2, 222, n = 77). Treatment was abandoned in 20.5% of the patients. Treatment‐related mortality occurred in 13 of 179 (7.2%) patients. Relapse occurred in 26 of 158 (16.5%) patients. The 3‐year overall survival (OS) and event‐free survival (EFS) of patients who completed therapy were 78.3 and 72%, respectively. The stage (p = .013) and histology (p = .023) influenced OS. A lower OS in stage II (75.4%) versus stage III disease (83.7%) suggested understaging. Patients with a higher tumor volume at diagnosis (p = .005; odds ratio [OR]: 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.99–1.00) or a lower weight‐for‐age z‐score (p = .002; OR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.21–2.33) had an increased risk of death or relapse.
Conclusions
The 3‐year OS and EFS of children who completed therapy were 78.3 and 72%, respectively. A higher tumor volume and lower weight‐for‐age z‐score at diagnosis were identified as distinct adverse prognostic factors. A likely suboptimal lymph node assessment (intraoperative and histopathology) contributed to the understaging of stage III to II disease and reduced survival.