Outcomes of patients with unilateral retinoblastoma: A report from the RIVERBOAT Consortium.
Authors: Friedman Debra L. , Schremp Emma , Koyama Tatsuki , Sun Lili , Kehler Lori Ann , Daniels Anthony , Shah Amish C. , Dimaras Helen , Nagarajan Rajaram , Hayashi Robert J. , Schmidt Mary Lou , Chintagumpala Murali M. , Herzog Cynthia E. , Luna-Fineman Sandra , Fraley Claire Elyse , Weinstein Joanna , Olson Thomas Arthur , Crooks Bruce , Schwartz Cindy L. , Neglia Joseph Philip 
Published: June 2022

10046

Background: Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common tumor of the eye in childhood. Intraocular RB cure rates approach 100%. Therefore, treatment now focuses on globe salvage preserving functional vision. The Research Into Visual Endpoints and RB Health Outcomes After Treatment (RIVERBOAT) consortium was established to examine patient health outcomes, including vision, in the contemporary therapy era. Methods: Patients with RB treated at consortium centers from 2007 to present were identified. Medical record abstraction was performed for disease presentation, treatment, and outcomes. A subset of the patients returned to centers and completed functional vision questionnaires (Child Vision Function Questionnaire - ages 0 – 7 and Cardiff Visual Ability Questionnaire for Children - ages > 8) and had visual acuity assessed. For participants who could not yet return for a study evaluation, medical record abstraction alone was performed. Results: Among 463 participants enrolled to date, 270 (58%) had unilateral disease. One patient with metastatic RB did not survive, resulting in overall survival of 99.6. There was one case of secondary leukemia. The eye group distribution (International Intraocular Retinoblastoma Classification) was 0.4% A, 5.6% B, 7.0% C, 36.0% D, 49.0% E and 2.0% not classified. 131 (49%) patients underwent primary enucleation and are not included in further analyses. Among the remaining 139 patients, 3% were treated with local ophthalmic therapy only, 22% with intravenous chemotherapy (IV) only, 53% with intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) only, 22% with IV and IAC, and 35% required secondary enucleation. Globe salvage after chemotherapy was successful in 100% A, 93% B, 82% C, 72% D, and 48% E eyes. This salvage was achieved with IV only, IAC only, or both in 22%, 58% and 20% respectively. The mean percentage of patients receiving IAC per year increased from 13% (2008 – 2013) to 21% (2014 – 2017) to 28% (2018 – 2022). In 29 patients without enucleation who reported functional vision to date, the mean scores (survey theoretical ranges) were 0.72 for < 3 years (0.57 to 0.87), 0.82 for 3 -7 years (0.56 to 0.94) and -2.72 for > 8 years (-2.53 to -0.51), all considered good functional vision. In 20 of these 29 patients, 4 eyes had normal vision (20/20-20/40) across A to D groups. Moderate vision loss (> 20/40 – 20/70) was noted in 3 D eyes and low vision (> 20/70 - < 20/200) in 1 D eye. Twelve B through E eyes met criteria for a legally blind eye (>20/200). Conclusions: In this cohort of RB patients with unilateral disease treated from 2007 - 2022, 66% required primary or secondary enucleation. Among 29 patients with globe salvage, self-reported functional vision was good, but 12 eyes in 20 of the patients were legally blind. IAC only or IV plus IAC was most used in those who avoided secondary enucleation. With ongoing cohort accrual and increased IAC use, it will remain to be determined if globe salvage with functional vision will improve.