Prognostic factors in neuroblastoma. Clinical, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical features and DNA ploidy in relation to prognosis.

Tumor samples from 58 patients diagnosed and treated for neuroblastoma or ganglioneuroblastoma in a single institution from 1967 to 1981 were included in a study of prognostic factors. Histopathology, certain immunohistochemical markers, and DNA ploidy were evaluated along with clinical variables such as tumor stage, primary site, and patient's age at diagnosis. Children under 1.5 years of age at diagnosis had a much better prognosis than did older ones, and this variable was the best prognostic indicator. Tumor Stages I to II and IVS, primary tumor site above the diaphragm, and tumor differentiation were also related to a better prognosis. The Shimada classification was of no additional prognostic value in our study. Neither was the immunohistochemical marker pattern, but it was sometimes helpful in establishing the tumor diagnosis. Tumor-cell ploidy, however, seemed to afford additional prognostic information because the 11 patients with aneuploid tumors under the age of 1.5 years at diagnosis all survived in contrast to only five of nine patients with diploid tumors in the same age group. It is possible that this was due to a better response to treatment in the aneuploid group. Our results suggest that patients with diploid neuroblastomas of undifferentiated histology and those over the age of 1.5 years at diagnosis might be selected for more intense treatment.