Kojima Y et al. – Age was a negative prognostic factor in rhabdomyosarcoma patients with localized disease, but it did not affect the survival in metastatic disease. For metastatic disease, although local therapies may be effective for survival, the timing of such therapies should be determined individually.

• Clinicopathological features and patient outcomes were reviewed retrospectively for rhabdomyosarcoma patients receiving chemotherapy between 1981 and 2010 at the institution.
• Adults were defined as those aged 21years or older.

• Of the 98 patients identified, 36 were adults (median age, 29; range, 21-72) and 62 were children (median age, 11; range, 0.6-20).
• Median progression-free survival of localized and metastatic disease for children and adults was as follows: localized disease, 166.9 versus 22.4 months (p=0.005), and metastatic disease, 13.3 versus 13.3months (p=0.949), respectively.
• Multivariate regression analysis revealed that older age (≥21 vs. <21) was a significant poor prognostic factor in localized disease.
• Conversely, age was not related to survival in metastatic disease.
• Receiving radiotherapy to the primary site was an independent factor indicating a better prognosis.
• An analysis of the optimal timing of local therapy was performed for 53 patients; however, its significance on survival could not be determined.