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Updated: Sep 26, 2025
Reconstruct Human Retinoblastoma In Vitro
Published on: October 11, 2022
Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy as Primary Treatment for Advanced Unilateral Retinoblastoma in China
Tingyi Liang1, Xin Zhang2, Jiakai Li1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Purpose:
This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and complications of intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) as a primary treatment for advanced unilateral retinoblastoma in Chinese patients.
Methods:
This study was a retrospective review of patients with advanced unilateral retinoblastoma treated with IAC as the primary treatment. The IAC procedures were performed using a balloon-assisted technique. The clinical status and treatment complications were recorded at each visit. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to estimate recurrence-free survival and ocular survival.
Results:
In total, 116 eyes of 116 patients with advanced unilateral retinoblastoma were enrolled, including 66 eyes (57%) in group D and 50 eyes (43%) in group E. All treated eyes received a mean of 3 cycles of IAC (range, 3-5), and 66% of the eyes were combined with local consolidation therapy. The median follow-up time was 39 months (range, 22-57 months). The 3-year recurrence-free survival and ocular survival rates were 68.8% (95% CI, 59.2-76.6%) and 88.5% (95% CI, 80.9-93.2%), respectively. Moreover, the 3-year ocular survival rate in group D was significantly higher than that in group E (96.9%, 76.3%; P < 0.01). The common ocular complication was vitreous hemorrhage (19.8%). No deaths or severe systemic complications occurred.
Conclusion:
Primary intra-arterial chemotherapy is effective for the treatment of advanced unilateral retinoblastoma, especially in group D, with acceptable toxicity.
