Background: Over the past decades, 2 different approaches for the treatment of Wilms tumor have emerged: upfront nephrectomy (UN) and preoperative chemotherapy (PC), with adjuvant treatment adjusted to stage, histology, and chemotherapy response.
Methods: In July 2005, we switched our strategy from UN to PC. This study is a retrospective review of patients treated at our institution between January 2003 and October 2007.
Results: Thirty-six children (20 males) with Wilms tumor were studied. Median age was 3.45 years (range: 0.3 to 15.8 y). Nineteen patients (53%) were treated according to the International Society of Paediatric Oncology 93-01/German Pediatric Oncology Hematology, Group protocol (PC group) and 17 (47%) according to the National Wilms' Tumor Study-5 (UN group). UN group received more radiation dose and less cumulative doses of doxorubicin. The 3-year event-free survival and overall survival estimates for the whole group were 86% and 89%, respectively. Survival estimates were similar in both groups.
Conclusions: The use of PC reduced the use of radiation; however, patients treated using the SIOP 93-01/German Pediatric Oncology Hematology Group protocol received higher cumulative doses of doxorubicin; these doses were believed to be high in this young group of patients with potential for long-term toxicity. Although selecting a specific protocol for Wilms tumor is important, the development of surgical expertise and referral to specialized centers takes priority.