Pediatric hepatic tumors: clinical trials conducted in the United States

Hepatoblastomas (HBs) and hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) constitute the majority of hepatic tumors in children. Although most children who have HB or HCC present with unresectable disease, chemotherapy may reduce the size of the primary tumor and metastases, thus allowing subsequent successful removal. Clinical trials conducted over the past decade in the United States have demonstrated that chemotherapy regimens consisting of continuous-infusion doxorubicin and cisplatin or high-dose cisplatin alone effectively reduce tumor size. The prognosis of children with HB is better than that of those with HCC. Over half the patients who initially have unresectable HB can be rendered disease free with chemotherapy and subsequent surgery.