Less aggressive approach to neuroblastoma still effective

5 Junho 2007

• Cancer
• Neuroblastoma

In infants and children with intermediate risk neuroblastoma, a reduced-intensity chemotherapy regimen yields survival rates comparable to or better than a more aggressive regimen typically used in this patient population, researchers report.

In a study of 467 neuroblastoma patients, 192 received 4 cycles of chemotherapy in 64 days (the less intense arm) and 275 received 8 cycles in 168 days (the standard arm), following surgery. Chemotherapy consisted of 2 to 3 drug combinations of carboplatin, etoposide, cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin.

“The bottom line is that with significantly less intense chemotherapy, we achieved 3-year overall survival of 96%,” Dr. David L. Baker told the 43rd annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Related publications:

• Baker et al., A phase III trial of biologically-based therapy reduction for intermediate risk neuroblastoma. JCO 25, 9504-9504(2007). - 2007 ASCO meeting presentation abstract
• Baker et al., Outcome after reduced chemotherapy for intermediate-risk neuroblastoma. N Engl J Med. 2010 Sep 30;363(14):1313-23. - Final publication, peer reviewed

Original post on Pharmakon here.