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Second complete remission of relapsed medulloblastoma induced by metronomic chemotherapy
Author(s) -
Sterba Jaroslav,
Pavelka Zdenek,
Andre Nicolas,
Ventruba Jiri,
Skotakova Jarmila,
Bajciova Viera,
Bronisova Danica,
Dubska Lenka,
Valik Dalibor
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.22382
Subject(s) - medicine , medulloblastoma , chemotherapy , complete remission , blood cancer , oncology , radiation therapy , surgery , cancer , cancer research
Prognosis for children with relapsed medulloblastoma remains poor. Metronomic chemotherapy may offer some benefit to patients treated initially with intensive regimens. However, dosing and duration of such palliative treatment have not been systematically studied. Here we describe a child with medulloblastoma relapsing after initial high‐dose chemotherapy and standard radiotherapy. The patient was then treated with metronomic chemotherapy and achieved second complete remission after 21 months of treatment. Three months off therapy he relapsed again and died from progressive disease. This case illustrates the potential benefit of metronomic chemotherapy but also shows the uncertainty of when to stop metronomic chemotherapy while balancing toxicity. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010;54:616–617. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.