Document Type : Research Articles
Authors
1
Department of Pediatric Oncology, Children Cancer Hospital Egypt-57357 and National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
2
Department of Pathology, Children Cancer Hospital Egypt-57357 and National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
3
Department of Clinical Pathology, Children Cancer Hospital Egypt-57357 and National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
4
Clinical Research Unit, Research Department, Children Cancer Hospital Egypt-57357 and National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
5
Menoufeya Faculty of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt.
Abstract
Introduction: Neuroblastoma (NBL) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children. It accounts for 15%
of the deaths from cancer in the pediatric age group. Approximately half of the newly diagnosed children are at “high
risk” (HR) of treatment failure. This study aim was to evaluate the impact of salvage chemotherapy ICE (ifosfamide,
carboplatin, and etoposide) versus TC (topotecan/cyclophosphamide) when administered to NBL HR patients having
residual bone marrow disease after primary tumor control on the first line treatment regimen. Materials and Methods:
The present retrospective study included two groups of eligible stage 4 NBL patients with persistent bone marrow
disease. Group (1), 29 patients, received ICE whereas less intensive TC was administered to Group (2), 32 patients.
Data analysis included epidemiological variables, pathology subtype, MYCN gene status, primary tumor response
and their correlation with bone marrow disease clearance on each regimen. Results: A higher tendency of complete
bone marrow clearance was reported in patients who received ICE compared to TC; 41.4% versus 25.0%, respectively.
However, the difference was not statistically significant (p= 0.174). Conclusion: TC regimen appears to be a good
alternative to ICE as salvage treatment in an attempt to clear NBL bone marrow residual, with the privilege of being
less toxic and can be given on outpatient basis. Further randomized trials of larger study sample size with survival
impact analysis are warranted.
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