title: Initial response to treatment was highly associated with the prognosis of childhood rhabdomyosarcoma: a retrospective analysis of a single center experience in Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Following the introduction of a multimodal approach to diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) has markedly improved over the last three decades. However, there are few data on treatment outcomes in Korean patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective analysis of 77 patients with RMS diagnosed and treated at Seoul National University Children's Hospital between 1986 and 2005.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall 5-year survival and event-free survival rates for all patients were 77% and 59%, respectively. The Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study clinical grouping and initial response to treatment (20-week response) were important prognostic factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The outcome of childhood RMS was closely associated with the initial staging and the initial response to treatment. Modulating therapies according to initial responses and risk factors is critical, and new treatment strategies for high-risk patients are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Eun Kyung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyoung Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Hee Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Il Han
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyo Seop
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Ahn
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