Treatment of Pediatric Malignant Tumor with VP-16

Abstract

The West Japan Pediatric Oncology Group studied the treatment of pediatric malignant tumors with VP-16 from December 1984 to March 1988. Of 156 cases examined, VP-16 evaluation was possible in 116 cases, including 71 cases of acute non-lymphocytic leukemia, 20 cases of relapsed lymphocytic leukemia, 13 cases of histiocytosis, 7 cases of neuroblastoma, and 5 cases of malignant lymphoma. The efficacy rate was calculated by considering complete and partial remission cases to be effective. The efficacy rates were 87.5% for primary cases of ANLL, 100% for primary cases of histiocytosis, 28.6% for relapsed cases of ANLL, and 40% for relapsed cases of ALL by VP-16 alone. The efficacy rates were 92.6% for primary cases of ANLL, 66.7% for primary cases of histiocytosis, 45.5% for relapsed cases of ANLL, 66.7% for relapsed cases of ALL, and 100% for relapsed cases of histiocytosis by combination therapy with other drugs. Alopecia, gastrointestinal symptoms, and bone marrow suppression were observed, but they presented no significant problems. From our results, we believe that chemotherapy including VP-16 is effective in remission induction therapy for acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.