Early Use of Dinutuximab Beta in Patients with High-Risk Neuroblastoma

• Main Authors: Neofit Spasov, Mariya Spasova
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2021-01-01
• Series: Case Reports in Pediatrics
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6610955

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children, accounting for 15% of all pediatric cancer deaths. High-risk neuroblastoma (HRNB) is a particularly difficult-to-treat form of the disease that requires aggressive multimodality therapy, including induction chemotherapy, consolidation therapy with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant, and maintenance therapy with dinutuximab beta. Despite treatment advances, the prognosis of these patients remains poor. As a better response to induction therapy has been associated with prolonged survival in patients with HRNB, we hypothesized that early use of dinutuximab beta—post-induction chemotherapy—may improve patient outcomes. We describe here our experience of administering at least one cycle of dinutuximab beta post-induction and prior to surgery in three children with HRNB who did not demonstrate a complete response to induction chemotherapy. All three patients achieved complete remission. Early use of dinutuximab beta may therefore have the potential to improve outcomes in patients with HRNB.