Survival analysis of childhood tumours: data from the Italian cancer registries.

This study shows the childhood cancer survival rates of 1,315 cases incident in the 1990-1994 period in Italy. The observed survival shows an increase over the previous period in almost all diagnostic groups. In particular, 5-year survival attained 72% overall, 78% for acute lymphatic leukaemia, about 100% for Hodgkin's disease, 70% for non Hodgkin's lymphomas, 64% for central nervous system tumours, 87% for retinoblastoma, 80% for renal tumours, 67% for hepatic tumours, 71% for bone tumours, and 70% for soft tissue sarcomas. Finally, the findings are comparable to those in other countries (USA, Great Britain, Australia, Slovakia) and they show a progressive improvement in survival.