Retinoblastoma vascular perfusion and intra-arterial chemotherapy cycle requirements

Retinoblastoma is a life- and sight-threatening malignancy.

To assess the relationship between tumour perfusion and intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) requirements to achieve retinoblastoma control.

Retrospective case series at the Ocular Oncology Service of Wills Eye Hospital (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).

Fifty-nine eyes of 55 patients.

Review of medical and fluorescein angiography (FA) records for retinoblastoma treated with primary or secondary IAC from 2012 to 2017. Vascular supply of the main tumour was evaluated in the pre-treatment FA.

Tumour fluorescence was classified as partial <67% or complete tumour perfusion >67%. Partially vs completely perfused tumours were compared for IAC cycle requirements.

There were 59 eyes of 55 patients with pre-treatment FA managed with IAC. Partially perfused tumours (n = 20, 34%) required fewer IAC infusions than completely perfused tumours (n = 39, 66%) (2.5 vs 3.7 infusions, P = .02), even after adjustment for confounding factors (tumour diameter, thickness and drug scheme, adjusted P = .04). Tumour perfusion correlated with number of IAC cycles required for tumour control (r = 0.46, P < .001). For primary IAC (n = 18, 31%), tumour perfusion was not associated with number of IAC cycles (P = .63). For secondary IAC (n = 41, 69%), partially perfused tumours (n = 15, 37%) required fewer IAC infusions than completely perfused tumours (n = 26, 63%) (2.1 vs 3.7 infusions, P < .01).

FA demonstrating partial retinoblastoma tumour perfusion is associated with fewer IAC cycle requirements for secondary but not primary IAC. FA might be useful in judging anticipated treatment cycles of retinoblastoma managed with primary or secondary IAC.