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. PATIENTS AND 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. CONCLUSION: 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.
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. PATIENTS AND 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. CONCLUSION: 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.
Entities:
Keywords:
Brain tumor; case series; intrathecal; liposomal cytarabine; medulloblastoma; relapse/progression
Authors: Yanxin Pei; Kun-Wei Liu; Jun Wang; Alexandra Garancher; Ran Tao; Lourdes A Esparza; Donna L Maier; Yoko T Udaka; Najiba Murad; Sorana Morrissy; Huriye Seker-Cin; Sebastian Brabetz; Lin Qi; Mari Kogiso; Simone Schubert; James M Olson; Yoon-Jae Cho; Xiao-Nan Li; John R Crawford; Michael L Levy; Marcel Kool; Stefan M Pfister; Michael D Taylor; Robert J Wechsler-Reya Journal: Cancer Cell Date: 2016-03-14 Impact factor: 31.743