Neuroblastoma and treatment-related myelodysplasia/leukemia: The Memorial Sloan-Kettering experience and a literature review Journal Article


Authors: Kushner, B. H.; Cheung, N. K. V.; Kramer, K.; Heller, G.; Jhanwar, S. C.
Article Title: Neuroblastoma and treatment-related myelodysplasia/leukemia: The Memorial Sloan-Kettering experience and a literature review
Abstract: Purpose: To assess treatment-related myelodysplasia/leukemia (t-AML) in neuroblastoma patients by a review of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) data and the literature. Patients and Methods: We studied 380 previously untreated and treated MSKCC patients. Low-risk patients received no cytotoxic therapy. High-risk patients received the N4, N5, or N6 regimens. Dosing per cycle and cumulative dosing of leukemogenic agents peaked with N6, which included four cycles of cyclophosphamide 4,200 mg/m2 and doxorubicin 75 mg/m2, plus three cycles of cisplatin 200 mg/m2 and etoposide 600 mg/m2. We reviewed the literature. Results: t-AML occurred in six MSKCC patients, which included three of 53 patients in whom the only chemotherapy consisted of N6, and three patients treated for relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma; no case of leukemia emerged among the 50 low-risk patients. Four cases were found incidentally in routine follow-up bone marrow tests. The 36-month cumulative incidence of t-AML in the N6 cohort was 7% (95% confidence inter- val, 0 to 15). Published data parallel the MSKCC experience in that t-AML after neuroblastoma was once rare but has become less so since the mid-1980s, when the intensified use of topoisomerase-II inhibitors and alkylators first gained wide acceptance and produced better response rates and longer survival. Conclusion: Neuroblastoma itself is not associated with a host susceptibility to leukemia. However, current neuroblastoma treatment programs that use high-dose cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, and topoisomerase- II inhibitors may entail a considerable risk for t-AML. The incidence of t- AML in neuroblastoma patients may be underestimated because treatment and clinical factors can mask its presence. Efforts to devise effective but less leukemogenic treatment for neuroblastoma or to truncate leukemogenic therapy, eg, by exploiting molecular techniques for the early identification of complete remission, are warranted.
Keywords: clinical article; human tissue; preschool child; school child; leukemia; human cell; hydroxyurea; review; cisplatin; doxorubicin; fluorouracil; antineoplastic agents; follow up; carboplatin; etoposide; alkylating agent; cyclophosphamide; cytotoxicity; ifosfamide; risk assessment; neuroblastoma; leukemogenesis; leukemia, myeloid; remission; cancer care facilities; new york; myelodysplastic syndromes; gyrase inhibitor; myelodysplasia; host susceptibility; humans; human; male; female; priority journal
Journal Title: Journal of Clinical Oncology
Volume: 16
Issue: 12
ISSN: 0732-183X
Publisher: American Society of Clinical Oncology  
Date Published: 1998-12-01
Start Page: 3880
End Page: 3889
Language: English
PUBMED: 9850034
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI: 10.1200/JCO.1998.16.12.3880
DOI/URL:
Notes: Review -- Export Date: 12 December 2016 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Brian Kushner
    294 Kushner
  2. Glenn Heller
    391 Heller
  3. Nai-Kong Cheung
    628 Cheung
  4. Kim Kramer
    224 Kramer
  5. Suresh C Jhanwar
    293 Jhanwar