[Combination chemotherapy with cis-diamminedichloroplatinum, vinblastine and bleomycin for a rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate in a child: report of a case].

A case of prostatic rhabdomyosarcoma in a 5-year-old boy is reported. He was brought to our clinic on Apr. 1, 1982 with complaints of pollakisuria and urethral pain. X-ray examinations revealed a huge intrapelvic tumor, and it was histopathologically diagnosed as embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma with a specimen of transrectal needle biopsy. Since the tumor was too huge to resect completely, he was initially treated with combination chemotherapy regimen of vincristine, actinomycin D and cyclophosphamide (VAC therapy), and resulted in failure. Then another combination chemotherapy consisting of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum, vinblastine and bleomycin (PVB therapy) was tried, and the tumor showed reduction in size. On Oct. 15, 1982, total cystectomy with ileal conduit urinary diversion was performed. Histopathologically, degenerative change and partial necrosis of the tumor cell were recognized. After the operation, he was treated with radiation therapy and prophylactic VAC therapy. But six months later, multiple pulmonary metastases occurred and gradually increased in size and number. They did not respond to any other chemotherapy. He died on July 13, 1983. We discussed the chemotherapy for rhabdomyosarcoma, and emphasized that the PVB therapy should be tried on rhabdomyosarcoma as an initial chemotherapy.