EVALUATION OF PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED NEUROBLASTOMA SURVIVING MORE THAN 5 YEARS AFTER INITIATION OF AN INTENSIVE JAPANESE PROTOCOL - A REPORT FROM THE STUDY-GROUP OF JAPAN FOR TREATMENT OF ADVANCED NEUROBLASTOMA

In January 1985, a single protocol consisting of cyclophosphamide, vin cristine, tetrahydropyranyl adriamycin, and cis-platinum for the treat ment of advanced neuroblastoma was begun nationwide in japan and was r ound to improve clinical results significantly in terms of 2- or 3-yea r survival rate. Between January 1985 and December 1988, 113 eligible patients (7 infants younger than 12 months of age with stage IVA disea se and 106 patients aged 12 months or older with stage III or IV disea se) were enrolled and followed up for 5 years or more after initiation of treatment, as of March 1994. In this study, the usefulness of the protocol for the treatment or advanced neuroblastoma was evaluated wit h survival rates in relation to age, tumor site, stage, and N-myc ampl ification for patients surviving more than 5 years after initiation of the protocol. Fifty of the 113 patients were alive 5 years or more af ter initiation of the treatment, 39 without any episodes of disease re currence. Fourteen (70%) of 20 patients with stage III, 6 (50%) of 12 with stage IVB, and 24 (30%) of 81 with stage IVA disease were alive a nd disease-free 5 years after initiation of the protocol. Twenty (56%) of 36 patients with out N-myc amplification were alive at 5 years aft er initiation of the protocol. Only one patient who was alive without evidence of the disease at 5 years had recurrence afterward. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.