Chemotherapy Treatment for Children With Intraocular Germ-Line Retinoblastoma
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2006-09-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Retinoblastoma is an unusual cancer of early childhood involving tumor is both eyes or, in
certain circumstances, one eye only. This condition is the result of an abnormal gene which
makes both retinas (the back of the eye) vulnerable to develop multiple tumors. Growths in
the eye impair vision temporarily or permanently. These tumors are malignant, which means
that they can grow within the eye, spread outside of the eye, and be fatal if untreated.
Standard therapy for bilateral retinoblastoma includes removal of one eye if vision cannot be
save and radiation treatment of either eye in which vision might be saved. Radiation controls
tumor growth in the majority of cases. Another standard method is cryotherapy (freezing a
tumor to kill it). Chemotherapy (medicines used to kill tumor cells) has been used in the
past for tumor in or outside the eye, but is not standard. Hyperthermia, increasing the
temperature of a tumor to kill it, is widely performed, and can be done to a retinoblastoma
tumor by a laser; this method is not standard.
The problem with removal of an eye is that any hope of vision is lost. The problems with
radiation include incomplete control of tumor, injury to the eye or surrounding tissue with
decreased growth, and that (due to the abnormal retinoblastoma gene) children are very
susceptible to develop other tumors, especially in the tissue which was given radiation.
The doctors at Children's Memorial Hospital are using a newer form of treatment, including
laser hyperthermia, chemotherapy and cryotherapy to decrease retinoblastoma tumors. Some may
be controlled indefinitely, reducing the number of eyes that need radiation or removal.
OBJECTIVES
1. To find out how well chemotherapy plus cryotherapy and laser hyperthermia work on
retinoblastoma tumors.
2. To find out whether vision can be saved and tumors controlled without radiation or
removal of the eye.
Phase:
Phase 2
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago