Local control with multimodality therapy for stage 4 neuroblastoma

To evaluate the efficacy of 21 Gy hyperfractionated radiotherapy for local control in conjunction with surgery and intensive systemic therapy for patients with Stage 4 neuroblastoma.

After achieving a partial or complete remission, 47 children, ages 1-10 years, with Stage 4 neuroblastoma were treated on four consecutive institutional protocols (N4-N7) with dose-intensive multi-agent chemotherapy, maximal surgical debulking, and hyperfractionated radiotherapy (1.5 Gy twice a day to 21 Gy). Radiotherapy fields encompassed the initial tumor volume and regional lymph nodes plus a 3-cm margin. This was followed by consolidation with either autologous bone marrow transplantation (N4 and N5) or immunotherapy (N6 and N7).

Forty-five of 47 patients had a complete response to surgery and chemotherapy prior to radiotherapy. Five-year actuarial rates of local control, progression-free survival, and overall survival were 84%, 40%, and 45%, respectively. Among 26 patients who relapsed, 1 failed only at the primary site, 22 developed distant metastases exclusively, and 3 had both local and distant failures. There were no acute complications of radiotherapy.

Hyperfractionated radiotherapy to 21 Gy, in conjunction with dose-intensive systemic therapy and aggressive surgical resection, is well tolerated and is associated with durable local control for most patients with Stage 4 neuroblastoma.