title: Irinotecan as maintenance therapy in high-risk hepatoblastoma.
abstract: Children with high-risk hepatoblastoma (metastatic disease or a low alpha-fetoprotein at presentation) and those with recurrent disease have an extremely poor prognosis and are in need of novel therapeutic agents and strategies. We describe three patients who were treated with irinotecan (two in combination with vincristine). In two patients, this contributed to a clinical remission. All three patients received a 1- to 2-year course of irinotecan as maintenance therapy and all remain disease free. Treatment was well tolerated with minimal toxicity. Further evaluation of the use of irinotecan as maintenance therapy in high-risk and recurrent HB patients is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Aflac Cancer Center, Emory University and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Muna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qayed
authors.forename: Christie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: Elaine R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haugen
authors.forename: Howard M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Katzenstein
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D018197:Hepatoblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002166:Camptothecin