Ewing sarcoma: its course and treatment in 50 adult patients.

34 patients were treated for Ewing sarcoma with primary presentation. There were 10 females and 24 males with average age of 21 years (range 16-36 years). These patients received radiotherapy (greater than 5,000 R) to the primary site and combination chemotherapy with vincristine, cyclo-hosphamide, doxorubicin and actinomycin D. Of 19 patients with primary presentation in an extremity, 12 remain alive at 29 months without clinical evidence of tumor (63%); 2 patients are alive with relapse. All 10 patients with primary presentation in the pelvis died despite vigorous treatment. 3 patients are alive out of 5 patients with primary presentation in chest or abdominal wall or axilla but only 1 patient remained tumor-free. Of the entire group of 34 patients, 12 remained tumor-free at 27 months (35%). 2 relapsed patients were rendered surgically tumor-free and receive further treatment. 20 patients died or are receiving treatment for advancing disease. 16 patients were treated for locally recurrent (1 patient) or metastatic (15 patients) Ewing sarcoma. There were 6 females and 10 males (average age 24.7 years). These patients received palliative radiotherapy and combination chemotherapy with vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, actinomycin D and dacarbazine. At 36 months, 3 patients are alive tumor-free and 1 patient is alive with stable disease. 12 patients died, 2 after temporarily achieving complete remission.