THERAPEUTIC SIGNIFICANCE OF SURGERY IN ADVANCED NEUROBLASTOMA - A REPORT FROM THE STUDY-GROUP OF JAPAN

The role of surgery was evaluated in 19 stage III and 102 stage IV neuroblastoma patients, all of whom were treated with intensive induction chemotherapy by the Study Group of Japan between January 1985 and March 1990. For stage III neuroblastoma, surgical intervention at the primary site was performed in 18 of the 19 patients, 9 during and 9 after the first three cycles of A1 regimen, consisting of high-dose cyclophosphamide, vincristine, THP-adriamycin, and cis-platinum. Gross complete resection of primary tumor and regional lymph nodes was feasible in 17 of the 19 patients (89%), and the survival rate for the 17 patients were 79%, 70%, and 70% at 2 years, 3 years, and 4 years, respectively. For stage IV, surgical intervention at the primary site was performed in 92 of the 102 patients (90%): 30 cases during the first 3 cycles of A1 chemotherapy and 62 cases after that, with gross complete resection accomplished in 81 of the 102 patients (79%). The 81 patients with gross complete resection achieved had a better prognosis than those 11 patients with partial resection (P < .05). Overall survival rate was 62% at 2 years for 27 patients who underwent complete resection after 3 cycles of A1 when resolution of all metastases was obtained, whereas the survival was 52% at 2 years for 31 patients who similarly underwent complete resection but when evidence of persistent metastases was present. Patients in whom the ipsilateral kidney was preserved at surgery had an outcome superior to that of those with associated nephrectomy (P < .05). The incidence of local recurrence was lower in patients who underwent gross complete resection than in those who had partial resection. It was concluded that gross complete resection of a primary tumor and lymph nodes has a significant value in achieving complete remission and survival in patients with advanced neuroblastoma, when they are treated together with a very intensive induction chemotherapy such as the protocol used in the present study. © 1992.