Effect of tandem autologous stem cell transplantation on survival in pediatric patients with high-risk solid tumors in South China

Table 1 Patient characteristics, n (%)

Characteristics	Group A (n = 21)	Group B (n = 19)	Total (n = 40)	P value
Age				0.03a
< 36 months	5 (23.8)	14 (73.7)	19 (47.5)
≥ 36 months	16 (76.2)	5 (26.3)	21 (52.5)
Sex				0.19
Male	15 (71.4)	14 (73.7)	29 (75)
Female	6 (28.6)	5 (26.3)	11 (25)
Diagnosis				0.84
Neuroblastoma	18 (85.7)	17 (89.4)	35 (87.5)
Germ cell tumor	2 (9.5)	0 (0)	2 (5.0)
ATRT	1 (4.8)	0 (0)	1 (2.5)
Medulloblastoma	0 (0)	1 (5.3)	1 (2.5)
Pineoblastoma	0 (0)	1 (5.3)	1 (2.5)
Primary site				0.10
Abdomen	15 (71.4)	15 (79.0)	30 (75.0)
Mediastinum	4 (19.0)	2 (10.5)	6 (15.00)
Testis	1 (4.8)	0 (0)	1 (2.5)
Central nervous system	1 (4.8)	2 (10.5)	3 (7.5)
LDH at diagnosis				0.02a
< 1000 U/L	18 (85.7)	13 (68.4)	31 (77.5)
≥ 1000 U/L	3 (14.3)	6 (31.6)	9 (22.5)
No. of chemotherapy cycles before HDCT				0.72
≤ 8 cycles	4 (19.0)	1 (5.3)	5 (12.5)
≥ 9 cycles	17 (81.0)	18 (94.7)	35 (87.5)
Bone marrow metastasis				0.08
Negative	9 (42.9)	8 (42.1)	17 (42.5)
Positive	12 (57.1)	11 (57.9)	23 (57.5)
No. of metastasized organs				0.67
1-2	6 (28.6)	6 (31.6)	12 (30.0)
≥ 3	15 (71.4)	13 (68.4)	28 (70.0)

^aP < 0.05.

ATRT: Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor; LDH: Lactate dehydrogenase; HDCT: High-dose chemotherapy.