title: Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy as Primary Therapy for Retinoblastoma in Infants Less than 3 Months of Age: A Series of 10 Case-Studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Retinoblastoma is the most common primary malignant intra-ocular tumor in children. Although intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) by selectively infusing chemotherapy through the ophthalmic artery has become an essential technique in the treatment of advanced intra-ocular retinoblastoma in children, the outcome of IAC as primary therapy for infants less than 3 months of age remains unknown. In this retrospective study, we reviewed the outcome of IAC as primary therapy for retinoblastoma in infants less than 3 months of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed ten retinoblastoma patients attending our center from January 2009 to September 2015 and beginning primary IAC before the age of 3 months. The patient characteristics, overall outcomes and therapy-related complications were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean patient age at the first IAC treatment was 10.4 weeks (range 4.9-12.9 weeks). These eyes were classified according to the International Classification of Retinoblastoma (ICRB) as group A (n = 0), B (n = 2), C (n = 0), D (n = 9), or E (n = 2). A total of 28 catheterizations were performed, and the procedure was stopped in one patient because of internal carotid artery spasm. Each eye received a mean of 2.6 cycles of IAC (range 2-4 cycles). After IAC with a mean follow-up of 28.3 months (range 9-65 months), tumor regression was observed in 12 of 13 eyes. One eye was enucleated due to tumor progression. All patients are alive and no patient has developed metastatic disease or other malignancies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our experience suggests IAC as primary therapy is a feasible and promising treatment for retinoblastoma in infants less than 3 months of age.
authors: Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Anomalies, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou 510623, China.
authors: Miaojuan
authors: M
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors: Junyang
authors: J
authors: Zhao
authors: Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Anomalies, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou 510623, China.
authors: Jiejun
authors: J
authors: Xia
authors: Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Anomalies, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou 510623, China.
authors: Zhenyin
authors: Z
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Anomalies, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou 510623, China.
authors: Hua
authors: H
authors: Jiang
authors: Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Anomalies, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou 510623, China.
authors: Gang
authors: G
authors: Shen
authors: Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Anomalies, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou 510623, China.
authors: Haibo
authors: H
authors: Li
authors: Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Anomalies, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou 510623, China.
authors: Yizhou
authors: Y
authors: Jiang
authors: Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Anomalies, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou 510623, China.
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D008297:Male; D019572:Retinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents