CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Vol 28, 146-163, Copyright
© 1978 by American Cancer Society
Solid Tumors in Children: Wilms' Tumor, Neuroblastoma and Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Philip R. Exelby M.D.1
1 Chief, Pediatric Surgical Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
The management of solid cancers in children has been revolutionized by the development of multidisciplinary treatment, which has not only increased survival but has turned the once hopeless outlook into one of cautious optimism. In the past, the diseases were poorly understood because so few children survived, and only scattered small series were reported in the literature. With increased survival, more of these young patients are now available for study, resulting in a better understanding of the natural history of these diseases. Extensive cooperative projects, in which randomized trials have been carried out, have further improved the management of the childhood cancers. Studies of the immunological and pathological features of these tumors are just beginning to give meaningful information. The long-term effects of treatment, both physical and psychosocial, must still be evaluated. Thus, despite a decade of remarkable progress, a great deal of work remains to be done in improving protocols and achieving a betterquality of survival for these children.
