Can relapsed neuroblastoma be cured?

Can relapsed neuroblastoma be cured?

What is relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma? While low-risk and intermediate-risk forms of neuroblastoma may regrow (relapse) after surgery or chemotherapy, these children are usually cured with standard techniques such as surgery or chemotherapy.

What is the most common side effect of 131I MIBG therapy in neuroblastoma patients?

131I-MIBG dose/course ranged from 2.5 to 5.5 Gbq (median, 3.7). The number of courses ranged from 1 to 5 (median 3) depending on the tumour response and toxicity. The most common acute side-effect was thrombocytopenia.

What is the prognosis of neuroblastoma?

For children with low-risk neuroblastoma, the 5-year survival rate is higher than 95%. For children with intermediate-risk neuroblastoma, the 5-year survival rate is between 90% and 95%. For children with high-risk neuroblastoma, the-5-year survival rate is around 50%.

What is a MIBG scan used for?

An MIBG scintiscan is a type of imaging test. It uses a radioactive substance (called a tracer). A scanner finds or confirms the presence of pheochromocytoma and neuroblastoma. These are types of tumors that affect nerve tissue.

When does neuroblastoma relapse?

If neuroblastoma is going to relapse at all, it usually does so within the first two years after the end of treatment. The likelihood of relapse continues to decline as more and more time passes after treatment is complete. Relapses occurring more than five years after the completion of therapy are rare.

How often does neuroblastoma come back?

Approximately half of children who are treated for high-risk neuroblastoma and achieve an initial remission will have the disease come back. In addition, in approximately 15 percent of children with high-risk neuroblastoma, the tumor does not respond to initial treatment.

How long does MIBG scan take?

Each scan takes 1 – 2 hours. After injection of the radioisotope, you are given Lugol’s iodine solution to block uptake into the thyroid. Because the radiation from this radioisotope is fairly high compared to most other radioisotopes, some precautions may be necessary for a few days after the test.

Can neuroblastoma come back?

Relapsed neuroblastoma refers to the return of neuroblastoma in patients who have already undergone treatment for the disease. Approximately half of children who are treated for high-risk neuroblastoma and achieve an initial remission will have the disease come back.

Can you survive stage 4 neuroblastoma?

Procedure: Medical records of 31 patients with stage 4 NB treated between 1984 and 2009, who were included in a follow-up programme, were reviewed for information on tumor, treatment and late effects. Results: Five-year overall survival was 54.3 ± 9% and 5-year event-free survival was 44.9 ± 9%.

How long does it take to get results from MIBG scan?

The test is done in stages and takes 2 to 4 days to complete. On the first day you will have the radioactive MIBG injected into a vein in your arm or hand.

Is neuroblastoma painful?

Spread to bones: Neuroblastoma often spreads to bones. A child who can talk may complain of bone pain. The pain may be so bad that the child limps or refuses to walk. If it spreads to the bones in the spine, tumors can press on the spinal cord and cause weakness, numbness, or paralysis in the arms or legs.

What is considered high-risk neuroblastoma?

Patients with neuroblastoma are considered high-risk when the tumor cannot be surgically removed and has spread: To lymph nodes near the tumor; To other areas near the tumor, but not to other parts of the body; or. To distant lymph nodes in other parts of the body such as bones, bone marrow, liver, skin or other organs …

What is 131 I-MIBG therapy?

Therapeutic use of MIBG labeled with iodine 131 ( 131 I) is being investigated as part of research trials, both as a single agent and in conjunction with other therapies. 131 I-MIBG therapy has been studied in patients with newly diagnosed neuroblastoma and those with relapsed disease.

What are the advantages of MIBG?

The advantage to MIBG is that the radiation does not affect normal tissues to a great degree as it does given in the more traditional “external beam” method. Basically, it’s a way of targeting radiation therapy specifically to tumor cells by taking advantage of the fact that MIBG is not absorbed or used by any other cells in the body.

What are the long-term effects/risks of treatment with MIBG?

What are the long-term effects/risks of treatment with MIBG? 1 Low function thyroid gland, 2 Difficulty making blood cells for a period of time. 3 Rare different types of cancer. 4 Rare, but brief swelling of the salivary glands.

How does MIBG kill neuroblastoma?

Once the radioactive MIBG molecule has been picked up by the neuroblastoma cell the radiation will typically kill the cancerous cell in much the same way that radiation beams are used to kill breast, lung or brain tumors.