EWINGS-SARCOMA OF THE RIBS - A REPORT FROM THE COOPERATIVE EWINGS-SARCOMA STUDY

31 patients with primary Ewing's sarcoma of the ribs were treated acco rding to the protocols of CESS 81, CESS 86P and CESS 86. The results o f treatment were reviewed and analysed. 24 patients presented with loc alised disease and 7 with regional disease. 20 of 24 localised cases a nd 6 of 7 regional cases underwent tumour resection. All but 2 localis ed casts received irradiation. The cumulative relapse-free survival (R FS) rate of 31 patients was 61% at 12.8 years. Patients with poor prog nosis had tumour of the upper ribs (P = 0.0338), the posterior compone nt of the rib (P = 0.0597), or regional disease (P = 0.0001). Tumour s ize, existence of pleural effusion, type of the surgical margin and re sponse to chemotherapy were not significant prognostic factors. Most o f the localised cases could be controlled by combined treatment, but i n regional cases prognosis remained poor.