title: Treatment of metastatic retinoblastoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The risk for death in patients with retinoblastoma is increased in those who present with metastatic disease, and the role of intensive chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell rescue in these patients remains unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nonrandomized interventional case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four consecutive patients with metastatic retinoblastoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We treated four patients with retinoblastoma metastatic to the bone and bone marrow with intensive chemotherapy, consolidation with megatherapy, and autologous hematopoietic stem cell rescue. Chemotherapy included courses of carboplatin and etoposide alternating with cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and either carboplatin or cisplatin. Radiation therapy was delivered to areas of bone metastases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients completed and responded to the scheduled therapy; complete response of the bone marrow disease was documented after two courses of chemotherapy in all cases. Two patients are long-term survivors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The treatment described has been successful in obtaining disease-free survival in patients with metastatic retinoblastoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology-Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA. carlos.rodriguez-galindo@stjude.org
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Galindo
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Barrett G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Haik
authors.forename: Mindy J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lipson
authors.forename: Alvida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cain
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Merchant
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaste
authors.forename: Charles B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Pratt
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019046:Bone Marrow Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy*