title: Retinoic Acid for High-risk Neuroblastoma Patients after Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation - Cochrane Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neuroblastoma is a rare malignant disease and patients with high-risk neuroblastoma have a poor prognosis. Retinoic acid has been shown to inhibit growth of human neuroblastoma cells and has been considered as a potential candidate for improving the outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  The objective was to evaluate effects of retinoic acid after consolidation with high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation as compared to placebo or no further treatment in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma. We searched the databases CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE from inception to 01 October 2014 and included randomized controlled trials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified one relevant randomized controlled trial with 50 participants receiving retinoic acid and 48 participants receiving no further therapy. There was no statistically significant difference between the treatment groups in overall survival (hazard ratio 0.87, 95% confidence interval 0.46-1.63, P=0.66) and event-free survival (hazard ratio 0.86, 95% confidence interval 0.50-1.49, P=0.59). We did not identify results for other outcomes, including toxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The difference in overall and event-free survival between treatment alternatives was not statistically significantly different. Based on the currently available evidence, we are uncertain about the effects of retinoic acid after bone marrow transplantation in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Peinemann
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Oncology, Emma Children's Hospital/Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: van Dalen
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berthold
mesh_terms: D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014212:Tretinoin