Malignant germ cell sacrococcygeal tumors in children. Improved prognosis after introduction of cisplatin-containing multiple drug treatment.

The survival of children with malignant germ cell sacrococcygeal tumors has improved during the last few years after introduction of a multidrug protocol including cisplatinum. Treatment for 10 patients registered in 1965-1978 was not uniform and consisted of surgical resection or biopsy and radiotherapy with or without multiple drug chemotherapy (methotrexate + actinomycin D + cyclophosphamide). Only one of these patients is alive. Fifteen patients registered between 1978 and 1986 were treated with actinomycin D + cyclophosphamide + vincristine + doxorubicin + bleomycin + cisplatinum. Four patients also received radiotherapy. Seven out of these 15 children are alive without evidence of disease.