[Intensive chemotherapy and bone marrow grafting during the consolidation phase of stage IV neuroblastoma]

Sixty-five patients more than one year of age at diagnosis with stage IV neuroblastoma were prospectively treated since january 1983. Seventeen per cent were not consolidated with massive therapy and ABMT (progression: 3 cases; died at induction: 4 cases; died at surgery: 1 case; parental refusal: 2 cases) and all died. Among 49 evaluable cases, 31 were grafted in PR and 18 in CR or VGPR. Actuarial progression free survival at 35 months is 33% for the grafted group and 24% for the whole group. These results are better than previous experience of this group (8% at 30 months).