ABSTRACT
Main objective of this study was to confirm that surgery alone is an effective and safe treatment for localised resectable neuroblastoma except stage 2 with amplified MYCN gene (MYCNA). Of 427 eligible stages 1-2 patients, 411 had normal MYCN and 16 had MYCNA. Of the 288 stage 1 patients with normal MYCN, 1 died of complications and 16 relapsed, 2 of whom died; 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 94.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 91.6-97) and 98.9% (95% CI: 97.7-100), respectively. Of the 123 stage 2 patients with normal MYCN, 1 died of sepsis and 22 relapsed, 8 of whom died (RFS 82.8%, 95% CI: 76.2-89.5; OS 93.2%, 95% CI: 88.7-97.8). In stage 2, OS and RFS were worse for patients with elevated LDH and unfavourable histopathology. Of 16 children with MYCNA, 7 were stage 1 (5 relapses and 4 deaths) and 9 were stage 2 (3 relapses and 2 deaths) patients. In conclusion, surgery alone yielded excellent OS for both stage 1 and 2 neuroblastoma without MYCNA, although stage 2 patients with unfavourable histopathology and elevated LDH suffered a high number of relapses. Both stage 1 and 2 patients with MYCNA were at greater risk of relapse.
Subject(s)
Neuroblastoma/surgery , Disease Progression , Disease-Free Survival , Europe , Female , Genes, myc , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Neuroblastoma/genetics , Prognosis , Recurrence , Survival RateABSTRACT
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most frequently encountered pediatric cancer. Approximately 70% of cases can be cured of the disease. In this article, we describe the experience of our Center in the last ten years with a treatment protocol adapted from protocol DFCI 81-01 (from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston). We conclude that it is easily accomplished, well tolerated and that it allowed us to significantly improve the outcome of our patients (80% 5 year-survival). Nevertheless, we are currently in the process of changing to a new protocol--one that will hopefully achieve a comparable cure rate with less long-term toxicity.