High dose chemotherapy with stem-cell transplantation in a metastatic medulloblastoma in an adult: a case report and review of the literature

J Neurooncol. 1994;18(1):19-23. doi: 10.1007/BF01324599.

Abstract

Medulloblastoma is a rare tumor in adult. High doses of megavoltage irradiation of the posterior fossa have been resulted in a better survival (48 to 78% at 5 years) of the patient. It is sensitive to a wide variety of chemotherapy drugs, but adjuvant chemotherapy has not been proved effective in adults although data are limited. We report the case of a cerebellar medulloblastoma with bony and medullar metastases. High-dose chemotherapy with peripheral stem-cell transplantation was performed while the patient was in remission following conventional chemotherapy. Complete remission lasted for 8 months. This therapeutic approach of metastatic medulloblastoma might be of value as this tumor is chemosensitive and not cured by conventional treatment. Internal radiotherapy by Samarium-153 was also carried out and proved to be an effective palliative treatment of pain.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Bleomycin / administration & dosage
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Dacarbazine / administration & dosage
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mechlorethamine / administration & dosage
  • Medulloblastoma / drug therapy
  • Medulloblastoma / radiotherapy
  • Medulloblastoma / therapy*
  • Prednisone / administration & dosage
  • Procarbazine / administration & dosage
  • Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Vinblastine
  • Vincristine / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Bleomycin
  • Procarbazine
  • Mechlorethamine
  • Vincristine
  • Vinblastine
  • Dacarbazine
  • Doxorubicin
  • Prednisone

Supplementary concepts

  • ABVD protocol
  • MOPP protocol