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Title: Local control of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in children by radiation therapy when combined with chemotherapy

Journal Article · · Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States)

Between August 1970 and March 1978, 58 patients with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) were treated at the Radiation Therapy and Pediatric Departments of MSKCC. Chemotherapy was given according to T2 protocol (sequential administration of dactinomycin, vincristine, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide) or the T6 protocol (simultaneous administration of the previous drugs plus bleomycin, methotrexate and BCNU), which was introduced in 1975. The primary tumor or regional metastases were completely or partially removed in 43 patients, while biopsy was the only surgical procedure in 15. There were 41 boys and 17 girls, between 4 months and 19 years old. Eight had stage I-B disease (microscopic residual), 16 stage II (gross residual), 24 stage III (node metastases), and 10 patients stage IV (disseminated tumors). Thirty-five patients were treated with T2 protocol, twenty-three with T6 protocol. Sixteen patients received more than 5000 rad, 21 had between 4000 and 5000 rad and 21 had less than 4000 rad. Forty-four patients are alive, 38 of them disease free. Local tumor control was not achieved in 14 patients, 10 of them were treated with T2 and 4 with T6. There were no local failures in patients treated for microscopic disease with doses between 3000 and 4000 rad. In patients treated for bulky tumors with 4000 to 5000 rad there were 3 failures out of 11 tumors and 3 out of 17 in those treated with higher doses. Radiation doses 3000 to 4000 rad were sufficient for local control of microscopic disease and 4000 to 5000 rad were as effective for control of bulky tumors as higher doses.

Research Organization:
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
OSTI ID:
7030633
Journal Information:
Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 6:7
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English