The improvement in survival associated with combined chemotherapy in childhood rhabdomyosarcoma a historical comparison of 345 patients in the same center

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Abstract
Since no randomized trial with a control group without chemotherapy is ethically possible in rhadomyosarcoma patients in view of the 1st results of chemotherapy in this disease, the results of an historical comparison of 345 patients treated with or without combined chemotherapy are reported. The results confirm the overall improvement of survival rates with combined chemotherapy [using VAC-vincristine, dactinomycin and cyclophosphamide- and VAD-vincristine and adriamycin]. The greatest benefit from combined chemotherapy was observed in clinical Stage III and IV tumors of the head and neck (with the exception of orbital tumors) and of the genitourinary tract. The efficacy of combined chemotherapy is uncertain for other clinical stages and for limb tumors.