Bevacizumab and irinotecan in the treatment of children with recurrent/refractory medulloblastoma

Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2011 Mar;56(3):491-4. doi: 10.1002/pbc.22868.

Abstract

Relapsed/refractory medulloblastoma (MB) has a poor outcome regardless of the treatment employed. Novel therapies are needed in an effort to improve survivals. We present two children with recurrent/refractory MB treated with bevacizumab and irinotecan both given every 2 weeks. One patient also received temozolamide. The first patient had stable disease and remains without progression after 30 months. The second patient had a near complete response that was sustained for 18 months. The regimen was well tolerated with minimal toxicity and provided prolonged progression-free survival in these two patients. Prospective clinical trials are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of this strategy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Bevacizumab
  • Camptothecin / administration & dosage
  • Camptothecin / analogs & derivatives
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dacarbazine / administration & dosage
  • Dacarbazine / analogs & derivatives
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Irinotecan
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Medulloblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Medulloblastoma / pathology
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
  • Salvage Therapy*
  • Temozolomide
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Bevacizumab
  • Irinotecan
  • Dacarbazine
  • Camptothecin
  • Temozolomide