title: The development of VAC chemotherapy in rhabdomyosarcoma: what does one do for an encore?
abstract: The establishment of the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study (IRS) Committee in 1972 by three extant American pediatric cooperative groups initiated five generations of studies in the multidisciplinary treatment of soft-tissue sarcomas. Taking the lead from the use of vincristine, actinomycin-D, and cyclophosphamide (VAC) by Dr. Ruth Heyn, Dr. Harold Mauer and colleagues developed a more robust VAC as well as three similar drug regimens with hematopoietic growth factor support, which, in the context of surgery with or without radiotherapy, achieved a 3-year failure-free survival rate of 83% (IRS-IV) in nonmetastatic embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. This review documents the development of VAC and some of the new directions currently being pursued by the Children's Oncology Group Soft Tissue Committee.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology/Oncology, Ohio State University Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, USA. fruymann@chi.osu.edu
authors.forename: Frederick B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Ruymann
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D014481:United States; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D003609:Dactinomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide