Response with combined modality treatment in childhood rhabdomyosarcoma

Children diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma at the Tata Memorial Hospital during the period January 1986-December 1988 were studied. All were treated with combination chemotherapy incorporating vincristine, Adriamycin, and cyclophosphamide given sequentially in repeated cycles over 18 months, along with local radiotherapy. Of 24 patients, 18 patients had advanced-stage disease at onset. All patients have been followed up for 18 months or more. Of the 11 patients with group III disease, six are in complete remission; of the six patients with group IV disease, two patients are in complete remission. These results are clearly better than those achieved in the past, where surgery was employed as the primary modality of therapy with chemoradiotherapy given only for patients with group IV disease.