Double-conditioning regimen with thiotepa and melphalan for high-risk
Neuroblastoma
Abstract
Appropriate high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) for high-risk neuroblastoma has
not yet been established. In Japan, a unique HDC regimen (called
double-conditioning regimen) comprising two cycles of total 800
mg/m2 of thiotepa and total 280
mg/m2 of melphalan is widely used. To re-evaluate the
safety and the efficacy of this regimen for high-risk neuroblastoma, the
medical records of 41 patients with high-risk neuroblastoma who
underwent the double-conditioning regimen followed by autologous
peripheral blood stem cell rescue between 2002 and 2012 were reviewed.
MYCN-amplified high-risk neuroblastomas were observed in 23
patients. All patients underwent intensive multidrug induction
chemotherapy, but none underwent anti-GD2 antibody immunotherapy. The
primary tumor was resected at the adequate time point. The median
follow-up duration for living patients was 9.2 years (range = 5.5–14.0
years). The 5-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS)
rates from treatment initiation were 41.5% ± 7.7% and 56.1% ± 7.8%,
respectively. The 5-year EFS of MYCN-amplified high-risk
neuroblastoma patients was 60.9% ± 10.2%, which was significantly
superior compared to MYCN-non-amplified high-risk neuroblastoma
patients (16.7% ± 8.8%; P < 0.001). MYCN
amplification was the most favorable prognostic factor for EFS (hazard
ratio = 0.29; 95% confidence interval = 0.12–0.66). Of the 41
patients, 3 died because of regimen-related toxicity (infection,
n = 2; microangiopathy, n = 1). The double-conditioning
regimen with thiotepa and melphalan is effective for high-risk
neuroblastoma, especially in patients with MYCN amplification.
However, the double-conditioning regimen is toxic and warrants special
attention in clinical practice.