Neoplasms

Eye Diseases

All Conditions

Diseases and Abnormalities at or Before Birth

Rare Diseases

Retinoblastoma

Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial

Neuroectodermal Tumors

Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive

Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal

Neoplasms by Histologic Type

Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial

Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue

Retinal Neoplasms

Eye Neoplasms

Eye Diseases, Hereditary

Retinal Diseases

Neuroepithelioma

Antineoplastic Agents

All Drugs and Chemicals

Topotecan

Melphalan

selective catheterization of the ophthalmic artery and injection of melphalan and topotecan

Intra-arterial Chemotherapy

David H Abramson, MD

Conventional treatments of retinoblastoma involves laser photocoagulation, cryotherapy (freezing of the tumor), plaque radiotherapy,external beam radiotherapy, and intravenous chemotherapy. Enucleation (removing of the eye)is the last option when the tumor cannot be controlled otherwise. However,many children with retinoblastoma present with advanced intraocular disease for which enucleation is the only option. Intra-arterial chemotherapy (Chemosurgery)delivers anti-tumor drug directly into the ophthalmic artery (the artery feeding the eye) in order to increase the dose of drug reaching the tumor while minimizing toxicity to the rest of the body.

Present treatments for intraocular retinoblastoma cure 99% of children but have significant toxicity. Enucleation of the eye is effective but blinds the eye and leaves a lifelong cosmetic deformity. Radiation is associated with the subsequent development of fatal cancers. Systemic (intravenous)chemotherapy is used worldwide but experience with it has shown that the majority of eyes initially treated with chemotherapy still require additional treatments, such as radiation, laser, cryotherapy or even enucleation. In addition blood transfusions, secondary infections, insertion of ports and permanent hearing loss are now well reported. Three years ago we developed this technique of Chemosurgery for significantly increasing the dose of drug to the cancer while decreasing the dose of drug administered to children. This approach has decreased the need for enucleation in advanced eyes scheduled for enucleation with minimal systemic toxicity. We now offer treatment of both eyes simultaneously (in bilateral cases) and to eyes with less advanced disease and normal vision as an alternative to toxic systemic chemotherapy. In cases of very advanced ocular disease we will be using multiple drugs infused at the same session to increase tumor kill.

Chemosurgery interventions are performed under general anesthesia. The femoral artery (artery at the groin) is punctured and a catheter (a small plastic tube)is advanced into the opthalmic artery (the artery of the eye)using fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance. The drugs are injected directly into the opthalmic artery over a period of 30-45 min.The catheter is then removed, manual compression exerted to the femoral artery, the child is awaken and goes to recovery for 6 hours. The procedure is repeated every 3-4 weeks for a total of 2 to 6 sessions according to tumor response. Since April 2006, our center has treated by chemosurgery 60 eyes in 52 patients with advanced intra-ocular retinoblastoma for which enucleation was considered.

Intra-arterial Chemotherapy(Chemosurgery) for Retinoblastoma

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

David Abramson,MD

Study title	NCT ID	Conditions	Interventions	Eligibility	Organization	Link
Intra-arterial Chemotherapy(Chemosurgery) for Retinoblastoma	NCT00901238	Retinoblastoma	Intra-arterial ...	1 Month -	Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Intra-arterial Chemotherapy(Chemosurgery) for Retinoblastoma	NCT00901238	Retinoblastoma	Intra-arterial ...	1 Month -	Weill Medical College of Cornell University

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