Work

Rapid COJEC without myeloablative therapy for high‐risk neuroblastoma

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Myeloablative therapy (MAT) is included in high‐risk neuroblastoma (HR‐NB) treatment programs of the Children's Oncology Group (COG) and the Societe Internationale d'Oncologie Pediatrique Europe Neuroblastoma (SIOPEN), but not at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). COG and SIOPEN programs achieved 3–5‐year event‐free survival rates of ~50%–60%, similar to the MSK experience without MAT which involved patients treated with COG or MSK induction and anti‐G D2 mAb murine‐3F8 + granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF). We now present the first report on rapid COJEC without MAT. This retrospective study covers HR‐NB patients who received rapid COJEC but not MAT and had no prior progressive disease (PD) when referred to MSK during the era of availability of anti‐G D2 mAb naxitamab. The 28 subjects were diagnosed 1/2017–6/2023. Post‐COJEC, 10 had no distant disease (Group 1) and 18 had persistence of metastases (Group 2). Group 1 patients had resection of primary tumors and received 1–2 cycles of HR‐NB regimens (cyclophosphamide‐topotecan ± vincristine), local radiotherapy, and naxitamab + GM‐CSF; 9 also received anti‐NB vaccine. All 10 remain event‐free at median 3.5+ years post‐diagnosis. Group 2 patients received second‐line therapy post‐COJEC, including high‐dose cyclophosphamide + topotecan ± vincristine or cyclophosphamide + doxorubicin + vincristine. Treatment after all chemotherapy included naxitamab + GM‐CSF ± irinotecan‐temozolomide. Thirteen received vaccine. Twelve remain relapse‐free at median 2.4+ years post‐diagnosis, including 3 who developed secondary neoplasms—myelodysplastic syndrome ( n = 2, successfully treated) or thyroid carcinoma. Six developed PD (four are again in complete remission and two died of NB). Avoiding MAT after rapid COJEC does not appear to adversely affect outcome compared to rapid COJEC + MAT.

Source: International Journal of Cancer

DOI: 10.1002/ijc.70043

Authors: Brian H. Kushner, Ellen M. Basu, Fiorella Iglesias Cardenas, Kim Kramer, Shakeel Modak

Institution: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Language: English

Topic: Neuroblastoma Research and Treatments

Subfield: Neurology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Cancer Institute, Robert K Steel Family Foundation