Outcomes in paediatric metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma: results of The International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) study MMT-98.

Purpose: Results are presented of the SIOP study MMT-98 for paediatric metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), which evaluated intensive chemotherapy followed by low intensity 'maintenance' chemotherapy in standard risk patients (SRG). For poor risk patients (PRG), the value of a therapeutic window study, sequential high dose monotherapy to achieve a complete response (CR) followed by low dose maintenance chemotherapy was examined.

Patients And Methods: From November 1998 to 2005, 146 patients aged 6 months to 18 years with metastatic RMS were entered.

The impact of transfusion of leucodepleted platelet concentrates on cytomegalovirus disease after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

The impact of transfusion of leucodepleted platelet concentrates (PCs) on cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease was assessed in 215 allogeneic (145 unrelated and 70 related donor) transplants over 3 years. In 43%, both donor and patient were CMV seronegative (CMV-/-). All received CMV-seronegative red cells and random leucodepleted PCs.