Purpose: To compare clinical features and outcomes of adults and children reported to have rhabdomyosarcoma. Patients and Methods: We analyzed data from 1,071 adults (age > 19 years) and 1,529 children (age ≤ 19 years) reported in the public-access Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database as having rhabdomyosarcoma, diagnosed from 1973 to 2005. Survival estimates were determined using survival time with the end point being death from any cause. Results: Adults with rhabdomyosarcoma had significantly worse outcome than children (5-year overall survival rates, 27% ± 1.4% and 61% ± 1.4%, respectively; P < .0001). Tumors in adults were more likely to be at an unfavorable site (65% v 55%; P < .0001) and to have histologies that are unusual during childhood, particularly the pleomorphic subtype (19%) and not otherwise specified (43%). Regional and distant spread was not more frequent in adults. Adults had significantly worse outcome than children with similar tumors. The most significant difference was in localized disease; 5-year survival estimates were 82% ± 2.0% for children and 47% ± 2.9% for adults (P < .0001). Multivariate analysis showed that age, histologic subtype, primary site location, stage, and local control with surgery and/or radiation were significant predictors of survival. However, alveolar subtype and unfavorable primary site lost significance when analysis was restricted to adults. Conclusion: Adults reported to have rhabdomyosarcoma had worse survival than children with similar tumors. Predictors of poor outcome in children were valid in adults except for alveolar histology and unfavorable tumor site.

BACKGROUND: Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a typical soft tissue sarcoma subtype crosswise between the pediatric and the adult age groups. Less satisfactory overall outcome has been recorded in adult series.METHODS: This study compares clinical features and outcomes of SS across the different age groups, by analyzing 1268 cases, 213 children/adolescents (≤18 years) and 1055 adults, registered in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 17 database from 1983 to 2005. Cancer‐specific survival estimates were compared with univariate and multivariate models.RESULTS: No major differences in stage distribution (localized, regional, and distant stage) were observed comparing the 2 age groups. The estimated 5‐year cancer‐specific survival was 83% for children/adolescents and 62% for adults (P < .001). Female sex, nonblack race, tumors located in the extremities, localized tumors, and tumors <5 cm in size were associated with better survival. In multivariate analysis, adult patients had significantly higher mortality rates than children after adjusting for other variables.CONCLUSIONS: Children and adults with SS have a similar clinical presentation but a dissimilar outcome, suggesting that factors other than unfavorable clinical features might be involved in the unsatisfactory outcome of adult SS patients. It remains to be ascertained whether this difference is related to biological variables or to historically different treatment approaches adopted in pediatric versus adult patients. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is exceedingly rare in children and adolescents. Reports from small series indicate that poor prognostic factors are more common in children than in adults, resulting in worse outcome for the pediatric population.METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was searched for records of children/adolescents with colorectal cancer, and the features and outcomes were compared with those of adults.RESULTS: From January 1973 through December 2005, only 159 children/adolescents (ages 4‐20 years) were reported with a diagnosis of colorectal cancer. The most common sites of involvement were the rectum (27%) and the transverse colon (26%). Adenocarcinoma was the most common histiotype in both adults and pediatric patients; however, children/adolescents had more unfavorable histiotypes (ie, mucinous adenocarcinoma [22%] and signet ring cell carcinoma [18%]) when compared with adults (10% and 1%, respectively; P < .001). Poorly differentiated and undifferentiated tumors (grades III and IV, respectively) and distant stage were more common in children/adolescents (P < .001). The 5‐year relative survival estimates in children/adolescents and adults were 40% ± 4.2% and 60% ± 0.10%, respectively, confirming a worse outcome in the pediatric age group (P < .001).CONCLUSIONS: Children/adolescents represent a minority of patients with colorectal cancer and have high‐risk features and worse outcome than adults. The small number of patients in this age group was an impediment to the development of meaningful clinical trials. Thus, the principles of management for adult colorectal cancer should be used in the treatment of children and adolescents. Cancer 2010. © 2009 American Cancer Society.