[The future of children cured of cancer: later morbidity]

The 476 children treated for solid malignant tumor from 1947 to 1968 at the Institut Gustave-Roussy, and living NED at 5 years, were reviewed after 5 to 36 years of follow-up (median 17 years). Two children were affected in the sibship in 9 families. Thirty patients died after 7 to 32 years, 15 from late evolution of their primary tumor, 7 from second cancer, and 8 from other causes. Late sequellae (3 lethal), mainly neurologic, orthopedic, endocrine, and others were observed in 271 patients, and not known in 48. A second tumor (19 malignant, 46 benign) occurred from 7 to 26 years after treatment, more than half in the previously irradiated area. These patients have presently 164 known children; two died in infancy, two have malformations. None has had tumor up until now. The long-term cure of cancer remains true in 95% of cases in our span of follow-up, with sequellae compatible with a useful life in most cases.