title: A phase II study of irinotecan in children with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma: a European cooperation of the Société Française d'Oncologie Pédiatrique (SFOP) and the United Kingdom Children Cancer Study Group (UKCCSG).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of irinotecan in paediatric recurrent or refractory neuroblastoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty seven patients aged between 6 months and < or = 20 years, with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma, received irinotecan at 600 mg/m(2) administered as a 60-min infusion, every 3 weeks. Tumour response was evaluated by conventional radiological and mIBG scans every two cycles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No objective response was observed during the study. Stable disease was observed in 13% of evaluable patients. Median times to progression and survival were 1.4 months (range, 1.2-1.5 months) and 8.8 months (range, 6.7-11.3 months), respectively. One forty two cycles were administered, with a median of two cycles per patient (range, 1-17 cycles). The most common grade 3-4 toxicities were neutropenia (65% of patients), anaemia (43%), thrombocytopenia (38%), vomiting (14%), abdominal pain or cramping (8%), and nausea (5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Irinotecan administered intravenously as a single agent every 3 weeks induced no objective response in relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Institute Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France. gvassal@igr.fr
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vassal
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giammarile
authors.forename: Mariel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Geoerger
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Couanet
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Michon
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stockdale
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schell
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geoffray
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gentet
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pichon
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rubie
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cisar
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Assadourian
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morland
mesh_terms: D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002166:Camptothecin