Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for extensive unilateral retinoblastoma.
OBJECTIVE
The role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy was studied when first line enucleation cannot be safely performed in unilateral extensive retinoblastoma (major buphthalmia or radiologically detectable optic nerve involvement).


METHODS
Six patients, referred for unilateral retinoblastoma, presented with major buphthalmia (two) or optic nerve invasion (four): they were treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy using etoposide and carboplatin.


RESULTS
Good tumour response was observed in the two patients with buphthalmia and in three of four cases with optic nerve involvement. Meningeal progressive disease was observed in the last patient. The five patients without disease progression were then operated on: anterior enucleation in the patients with buphthalmia and enucleation via a double neurosurgical and ophthalmological approach with prechiasmatic optic nerve section in the other three cases. Postoperative chemotherapy was performed in these five patients. Local radiotherapy to the chiasmatic region and posterior part of the optic canal was necessary in only one patient. The non-operated patient died with disease progression 6 months after the diagnosis. The other five patients are alive with a follow up of 12, 15, 21, 36, and 40 months after stopping treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy can be useful in extensive unilateral retinoblastoma with buphthalmia and/or radiological optic nerve invasion at diagnosis.
Bellaton
E
E
Institut Curie, Paris, France.
Bertozzi
A I
AI
Behar
C
C
Chastagner
P
P
Brisse
H
H
Sainte-Rose
C
C
Doz
F
F
Desjardins
L
L
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006871:Hydrophthalmos / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000379:methods; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D019574:Optic Nerve Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D019572:Retinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D005047:Etoposide; D016190:Carboplatin