IMPROVING SURVIVAL OF MEDULLOBLASTOMA - RESULTS IN 2 GROUPS OF PATIENTS

This retrospective study compares the results obtained in 56 children with medulloblastoma treated with two different protocols at our cente r between 1975 and 1990. Since 1985 we have been enrolled in the medul loblastoma SIOP II protocol in which we have entered 27 patients. Thes e patients form the SIOP group (SG) and the 29 children treated before 1985, the historical group (HG). When the two groups were compared fo r age and sex distribution, no differences were found; however, progno stic factors were worse in the HG than in SG: 21 versus 15 T3-T4 and 1 3 versus 8 high-risk, respectively. The relapse rate was 63% for the H G and 39% for the SG. Five-year disease-free survival was 31% for the HG and 56% for the SG (p = 0.037). Five-year survival was 52 and 70%, respectively (p = 0.055). When SG and HG were compared by stratifying for tumor size, surgical resection and the risk variable, better disea se-free survival was obtained in SG than in HG. In a multivariate anal ysis, the HG and the high-risk proved to be variable independent predi ctors of poor survival. We observe an increase in survival in our pati ents with medulloblastoma.