Purpose: To identify biologic prognostic factors in childhood primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET), including medulloblastoma, that accurately define patient groups with sufficiently good prognosis to permit a reduction in treatment intensity.
Patients and methods: We determined expression levels of the neurotrophin receptor TrkC mRNA in formalin-fixed tumor samples from 87 well characterized PNET patients using in situ hybridization. Comparison of TrkC mRNA expression levels with clinical and other laboratory variables was performed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis.
Results: High TrkC mRNA expression was found to be associated more with higher 5-year cumulative survival rate than was low TrkC mRNA expression (89% v 46%, respectively). When compared with established clinical prognostic factors and laboratory variables of potential prognostic significance, TrkC mRNA expression, by univariate analysis, was found to be the single most powerful predictor of outcome (hazards ratio, 4.81; P <.00005), exceeding all clinical prognostic factors. In multivariate analysis, the hazards ratio remained significant (P <.00005).
Conclusion: High TrkC mRNA expression in PNET is a powerful independent predictor of favorable clinical outcome. Assessment of TrkC mRNA levels may aid in treatment planning for patients with PNETs and should be incorporated prospectively into PNET clinical trials.