title: Intrathecal liposomal cytarabine and leptomeningeal medulloblastoma relapse: a valuable therapeutic option.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Relapsed medulloblastoma (MB) is a highly lethal disease, requiring for new effective treatment strategies. Intrathecal (IT) therapy both for de novo or relapsed brain tumors with meningeal metastasis is rarely used in first line and relapse protocols.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report on three cases of children with relapsed MB treated with IT liposomal cytarabine administered after mild sedation every 15 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The treatment was well-tolerated in all patients, achieving a prolonged progression-free survival (4-11 months) with a good quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This experience suggests the need for a phase II trial in brain embryonal tumors with leptomeningeal metastasis to better evaluate the efficacy of IT liposomal cytarabine.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio, 4-00165, Rome, Italy. angela.mastronuzzi@opbg.netSiewert
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mastronuzzi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Del Bufalo
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iacono
authors.forename: Domitilla Elena
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Secco
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Giovanna Stefania
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Colafati
authors.forename: Maria Antonietta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: DE Ioris
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Corsetti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D003561:Cytarabine
keywords: Brain tumor; case series; intrathecal; liposomal cytarabine; medulloblastoma; relapse/progression