The influence of chemotherapy on the prognosis of rhabdomyosarcoma

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Abstract
A study of 77 consecutive cases of childhood rhabdomyosarcoma treated initially at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles from 1950 to 1972 demonstrated an impressive improvement in survival of patients when intensive chemotherapy was combined with surgery and radiation therapy. The major improvement in survival occurred in Stage II and Stage III disease. Eight out of 9 patients with a primary lesion of the lower extremities developed intra‐abdominal disease. A general approach for treatment of Stage II, III, and IV rhabdomyosarcoma is proposed which involves intensive chemotherapy, following biopsy, as the principle treatment, with radiation and surgery used as adjuvants.