Olfactory neuroblastoma. Response to combination chemotherapy

A patient with olfactory neuroblastoma who had bone marrow metastasis at the time of diagnosis is presented. Previous therapy for this disease consisted of surgery and radiation. There is limited information relating to the efficacy of chemotherapy. Our patient was treated with combination chemotherapy (dacarbazine [DTIC-Dome], cyclophosphamide [Cytoxan], doxorubicin hydrochloride [Adriamycin], and vincristine sulfate [Oncovin]) and radiation to the primary site. Objective findings, more than two years after diagnosis, support a good partial response. Although a 50%, five-year survival time has been reported, the five-year cure rate is 18%. This report suggests that the role of combination chemotherapy should be further evaluated in certain patients with olfactory neuroblastoma.