[Therapy of advanced neuroblastoma by the protocol of the Welfare Ministry used by the Sawaguchi Group].

Five patients with advanced neuroblastoma were treated with the protocol of the Welfare Ministry used by the Sawaguchi group. This protocol consists of cyclophosphamide (CPM), vincristine (VCR), 4'-O-tetrahydropyranyladriamycin (THP-ADM) and cisplatinum (CDDP). Two patients treated with this protocol as the first therapy obtained partial remission. Two patients who had obtained complete remission before the treatment with this protocol remained in complete remission after the treatment. One patient who had shown poor response to the therapy given before treatment with this protocol also showed poor response to the protocol. The most significant side effect with this protocol was myelosuppression, the severity of which was closely related to the dose of THP-ADM. Damage to the liver, kidney and heart was not very significant. We advocate that patients with advanced neuroblastoma can obtain complete remission with the aid of surgery and radiotherapy, etc., if they are treated with the present protocol as the first therapy.