obsolete conventional alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma

Common Signs and Symptoms

Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer, can manifest differently in various individuals depending on the location and size of the tumor. Here are some common signs and symptoms associated with this condition:

• Painless Mass: Patients usually present with a solitary, painless, palpable mass on the extremities or trunk [10].
• Difficulty Urinating: When rhabdomyosarcoma is located in the urinary tract, individuals may experience difficulty urinating [15].
• Blood in the Urine: This symptom can also occur when the tumor affects the urinary tract [15].
• Vaginal Mass: In females, a vaginal mass may grow within the vagina, while in males, it may develop around the testicles [15].

Other Possible Symptoms

While not as common, other symptoms associated with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma include:

• Headache: If the cancer is located in the head or neck area, patients may experience headaches [10].
• Abdominal Mass: An abdominal mass can be a symptom when the tumor affects this region [15].

Important Note

It's essential to note that these symptoms can vary depending on the individual and the location of the tumor. If you suspect you or someone else has alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, consult a medical professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.

References:

[10] - Rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare type of cancer that starts as a growth of cells in soft tissue. [15] - People experience different symptoms of rhabdomyosarcoma, depending on the location of the tumor.

Based on the provided context, it appears that there are several diagnostic tests that were once used to diagnose alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), but are now considered obsolete. Here are some details:

• HD-CT and allogeneic HSCT: According to search result [2], High-Dose Chemotherapy (HD-CT) and allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) were once used to treat metastatic RMS, but they failed to achieve curative effects. Similar outcomes can be achieved with other treatments.
• Non-invasive F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (FDG-PET) scans: Search results [4] and [7] mention that non-invasive FDG-PET scans have a high ability to detect lymph nodes, bone, and bone marrow involvement in RMS. However, it is not clear if this test is still used for diagnostic purposes.
• Molecular testing: According to search result [3], molecular testing is required for risk stratification in all alveolar RMS cases. This suggests that genetic testing may be more relevant than conventional diagnostic tests.

It's worth noting that the context mentions that FISH or NGS testing is available for detection of CIC rearrangements (DNA) or fusions (RNA), which is considered "desirable" by the WHO [6]. However, it does not provide information on whether these tests are used to diagnose obsolete conventional alveolar RMS.

In summary, while there were once diagnostic tests like HD-CT and allogeneic HSCT that were used to treat metastatic RMS, they have been largely replaced by more modern treatments. Molecular testing is now considered essential for risk stratification in all alveolar RMS cases.

References: [2] C Chen · 2019 · Cited by 154 [3] Sep 20, 2023 [4] by P Karagiannis · 2015 · Cited by 7 [6] FISH or NGS testing is available for detection of CIC rearrangements(DNA) or fusions (RNA) from various labs and is listed as “desirable” by the WHO.

Current Treatment Options for Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma

Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) is a subtype of soft tissue sarcoma that primarily affects children and young adults. While significant progress has been made in cancer treatment, the management of ARMS remains challenging.

• High-Dose Therapy: Historically, high-dose therapy was used to treat ARMS, but it failed to improve survival rates [1].
• Maintenance Chemotherapy (MC): Recent studies have shown that maintenance chemotherapy with vinorelbine and low-dose cyclophosphamide can improve survival in patients with non-metastatic high-risk ARMS [3], [8]. This approach involves administering chemotherapy at regular intervals to maintain a therapeutic effect.
• Targeted Therapies: Targeted therapies, such as IGF1R-directed therapy, have shown promise in treating ARMS. These treatments aim to specifically target cancer cells while minimizing harm to healthy tissues [12].
• Gene Fusion Inhibition: Researchers are exploring the potential of inhibiting gene fusions or copy number changes that may be specific to ARMS. This approach involves developing therapies that target these molecular alterations, which could lead to more effective treatment options [13].

Emerging Therapies

New and innovative treatments are being investigated to improve outcomes for patients with ARMS.

• Oncolytic Virotherapy: Oncolytic virotherapy (OV) has been proposed as a potential treatment option for cancer patients, including those with ARMS. OV involves using viruses that selectively infect and kill cancer cells [9].
• Arsenic Trioxide (ATO): ATO has shown promise in inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis in ARMS by targeting the hedgehog pathway [4].

Challenges and Future Directions

While progress is being made, significant challenges remain in treating ARMS.

• Limited Treatment Options: The lack of effective treatment options for patients with metastatic or unresectable ARMS remains a major concern.
• Need for New Therapies: Developing new therapies that target specific molecular alterations in ARMS is crucial to improving patient outcomes.

References

[1] High-dose therapy failed to improve survival rates in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma patients. [2] Maintenance chemotherapy with vinorelbine and low-dose cyclophosphamide improved survival in non-metastatic high-risk ARMS patients. [3] IGF1R-directed therapy showed clinical activity in ARMS. [4] Arsenic trioxide inhibited tumor growth and metastasis in ARMS by targeting the hedgehog pathway. [5] Oncolytic virotherapy was proposed as a potential treatment option for cancer patients, including those with ARMS.