Management of unresectable Wilms tumor

Wilms tumor has become a model of highly curable cancer. With the addition and refinement of chemotherapy protocols, survival rates have risen from 20 per cent three decades ago to 80 per cent or greater in the past decade. Surgery remains an integral part of the management of Wilms tumor both as a diagnostic tool and for removal of tumor bulk. Few primary tumors cannot be surgically removed during the initial phase of therapy. However, bilateral Wilms tumor and large unilateral tumors may occasionally be initially unresectable without prohibitive loss of renal or nonrenal organ function. The National Wilms Tumor Study group has no protocol for management of these tumors but does offer guidelines unsupported by large numbers of patients. Two cases are presented in which the tumors were initially deemed surgically unresectable. Initial management with chemotherapy (both cases) and radiotherapy (1 case) followed by surgical removal of tumor left both patients free of gross tumor, with relapse-free survivals of two and one-half years and six years thus far. Based on our experience and that found in the literature, we believe that preoperative chemotherapy is indicated for children suspected of having Wilms tumors judged surgically unresectable.