New aspects in the treatment of childhood rhabdomyosarcoma: results of the German Cooperative Soft-Tissue Sarcoma Study (CWS-81).

Abstract

The results of the German Co-operative Soft-Tissue Sarcoma Study (CWS-81) of the treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma are presented. Prior to the introduction of chemotherapy only 10%-20% of the children were successfully treated. Combined multi-agent cytostatic treatment improved the results dramatically. In patients with primary stage III rhabdomyosarcoma, local tumour control by surgery or radiotherapy should be undertaken earlier than week 16, if complete remission has not been achieved by 7-9 weeks. Patients with complete remission or partial tumour regression should be treated with the same combination of chemotherapy, while only partial responders need radiotherapy in addition. Patients with tumours which are primarily resectable without mutilation have a 90% chance of cure; this also applies to patients with primarily unresectable tumours who achieve complete remission after 7-9 weeks of chemotherapy. Total disease-free survival rate for stage III rhabdomyosarcoma patients was 53%. The role of surgery includes primary removal of the tumour or assessment of remission by means of histological spot checks.

• Authors: J Treuner, J Kühl, J Beck, J Ritter, H J Spaar, H Jürgens, M Keim, P Weinel, W Brandeis, A Reiter
• Journal: Progress in pediatric surgery (Prog Pediatr Surg) Vol. 22 Pg. 162-73 ( 1989) ISSN: 0079-6654 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 2492390 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Child
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Humans
• Multicenter Studies as Topic
• Prognosis
• Rhabdomyosarcoma (mortality, pathology, therapy)