Autologous bone marrow transplantation for advanced neuroblastoma using teniposide, doxorubicin, melphalan, cisplatin, and total-body irradiation.
BACKGROUND
Disseminated neuroblastoma after infancy has a dismal prognosis; long-term survival with conventional therapy occurs in approximately 10% of cases.


METHODS
Between 1985 and 1992, we followed a strategy aimed to achieve remission with an induction combination of intensive chemotherapy, primary resection, and tumor-bed radiotherapy (TBRT). Patients who achieved remission proceeded to myeloablative chemoradiotherapy and unpurged autologous bone marrow transplant (ABMT). Twenty-eight patients older than 1 year presented with stage IV disease during the study period; six died of progressive disease and three died of complications of therapy. Nineteen patients achieved remission, two of whom did not receive ABMT. Seventeen patients proceeded to ABMT. Conditioning was with teniposide 130 mg/m2, doxorubicin 30 mg/m2, melphalan 120 mg/m2, cisplatin 80 mg/m2, and total-body irradiation 12 Gy in six fractions (modified VAMP-TBI).


RESULTS
Principal nonhematologic toxicities were mucositis and diarrhea. There were no ABMT-related deaths. Two patients relapsed at 8 and 26 months post-ABMT, respectively. Fifteen patients remain in complete remission (CR) at 24 to 102 months (median, 71) from ABMT and 30 to 114 months (median, 78) from diagnosis. Survival rates of all 28 patients are 61% and 50% at 2 and 5 years, respectively, and the disease-free survival (DFS) of the ABMT group is 94% and 87% at 2 and 5 years, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Modified VAMP-TBI appears to be an effective conditioning regimen, with 15 of 17 patients remaining disease-free, with no toxic deaths. This result compares favorably with that of other groups. Larger numbers of patients need to be treated to confirm the efficacy of this therapy.
McCowage
G B
GB
Department of Haematology and Oncology, Prince of Wales Children's Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
Vowels
M R
MR
Shaw
P J
PJ
Lockwood
L
L
Mameghan
H
H
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D013713:Teniposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
D004317:Doxorubicin; D013713:Teniposide; D002945:Cisplatin; D008558:Melphalan