A trend of improved survival of childhood hepatoblastoma treated with cisplatin and doxorubicin in Taiwanese children

Hepatoblastoma is the second most common childhood malignant hepatic tumor in Taiwan. Its prognosis used to be poor. We reviewed our cases in this decade to see if there has been any improvement of survival in our patients with hepatoblastoma. From 1988 to 2000, 19 patients with hepatoblastoma in this institution were included in the study. These patients’ clinical manifestations, laboratory and image studies, histological findings, treatment modalities and prognostic significance were analyzed. The mean age at diagnosis was 13.5 months, ranging from 0 to 4 years old (male:female =11:8). Abdominal distension was the most common symptom, and hepatomegaly was the most common physical finding. Laboratory abnormalities included elevated alpha-fetoprotein, thrombocytosis and abnormal liver function profiles. Treatment modalities included primary surgery with postoperative chemotherapy in three, chemotherapy only in four and preoperative chemotherapy plus surgery with or without postoperative chemotherapy in nine patients. The overall 2-year survival rate is 38.6%. The significant prognostic factors include patients’ compliance, resectability and chemotherapy protocol. The introduction of a new chemotherapy protocol designed by the International Society of Pediatric Oncology Study (SIOPEL) in 1994 improved the 2-year survival rate from 12.5 to 58.4% (P=0.01). In conclusion, the improved chemotherapy protocol enhances the survival rate of hepatoblastoma in Taiwanese children.