UNITED-STATES CHILDHOOD-CANCER SURVIVAL, 1973-1987

The surveillance, epidemiology, and end-results (SEER) data on 5-year relative survival rates (1973-1987) for the most common pediatric tumo rs (ages 0-14) were analyzed. The SEER data are population based, so t he observed progress in survival from childhood cancer represents the real impact that development in cancer treatment had on the population followed by the registry. The greatest increase in survival rate from 1973 unitl 1987 has been achieved in hematopoietic tumors such as acu te lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), in which survival increased from 47.6% (1973-1977) to 60.8% (1983-1987), and Burkitt's lymphoma in which surv ival increased from 27.6% (1973-1977) to 68.7% (1983-1987). Solid tumo rs showed a less steep, but steady increase in survival rates. Flatten ing in the survival rates since 1978-1982 has been observed for acute leukemia, astrocytoma, medulloblastoma, and osteosarcoma. Females have better survival rates for most pediatric tumors, except Hodgkin's dis ease. Analysis of race of childhood leukemia confirmed that black chil dren have worse survival than white. When solid tumors were analyzed b y stage at presentation, there was no indication that diagnosis in ear lier stages of disease accounted for the improved survival. Observed f lattening in the survival rates since 1978-1982 of leukemia and some s olid tumors warrants further follow-up. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.