Wilms' tumor: the Northern Israel Oncology Institute experience

Between 1971 and 1992, 42 children (median age = 2 years) with histologically proven Wilms' tumor were evaluated at the Northern Israel Oncology Institute. Most patients were staged according to National Wilms' Tumor Study (NWTS) criteria by which 18 were clinical stage I-II and 24 were III-IV. Combined therapy (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy) was given with a change to lower dose radiotherapy (< 2,000 cG) after 1981. The pre-1981 group (13 patients) suffered six relapses, most of which were pulmonary, whereas the 1981-1992 group (29 patients) had three relapses. The actuarial 5-year survival rate using Kaplan-Meier tables was 79% for the entire group but 100% for the 1981-1992 group and 38% for the 1971-1980 group. One case of immediate hepatic toxicity and one sudden death, unknown cause, of a patient in remission occurred in the group. Late deleterious effects were seen in five other patients; four had scoliosis and one developed osteoid osteoma of a rib. Despite these encouraging results, the necessity of ongoing monitoring for further long-term toxicities is apparent.