Medulloblastomstudie der Gesellschaft für Pädiatrische Onkologie, ein Zwischenbericht

Abstract The principle of giving intensive polychemotherapy in the time between operation and irradiation was applied in a cooperative phase-2-study in children with medulloblastoma of the posterior fossa. A first evaluation of 33 of 47 registered patients was attempted after the study existing now for 1 year and 10 months. In the majority of patients the chemotherapy protocol could be fully realized without any deductions. Side effects including two therapy related fatalities were analysed. In all patients irradiation was not delayed and could be started about 11 weeks after operation and could be carried through without any major draw-backs. Analysis of survival can only be preliminary due to the short duration of the study, but patients' survival is compatible with other reported studies. The therapeutic principle presented here shall be compared in a randomized and extended fashion with a conventional therapeutic approach.