Is age a prognostic factor in children with Wilms tumor beyond stage I in Africa?
The survival advantage of young age (<4 years) associated with stage I FH could not be demonstrated in higher stages. Age had no significant impact on prognosis although a trend to better outcome was seen in children <4 years.
This study suggests that the combination of Act D-induced down-regulation of XIAP (Signal I) and Apo2L/TRAIL-induced release of cytochrome c (Signal II) leads to the reversal of resistance to Apo2L/TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in the tumor cells. The sensitization of tumor cells to Apo2L/TRAIL by Act D is of potential clinical application in the immunotherapy of drug/Apo2L/TRAIL refractory tumors.