Intra-arterial Chemotherapy(Chemosurgery) for Retinoblastoma (Chemosurgery)

December 16, 2009 updated by: Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Conventional treatments of retinoblastoma involves laser photocoagulation, cryotherapy (freezing of the tumor), plaque radiotherapy,external beam radiotherapy, and intravenous chemotherapy. Enucleation (removing of the eye)is the last option when the tumor cannot be controlled otherwise. However,many children with retinoblastoma present with advanced intraocular disease for which enucleation is the only option. Intra-arterial chemotherapy (Chemosurgery)delivers anti-tumor drug directly into the ophthalmic artery (the artery feeding the eye) in order to increase the dose of drug reaching the tumor while minimizing toxicity to the rest of the body.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

Present treatments for intraocular retinoblastoma cure 99% of children but have significant toxicity. Enucleation of the eye is effective but blinds the eye and leaves a lifelong cosmetic deformity. Radiation is associated with the subsequent development of fatal cancers. Systemic (intravenous)chemotherapy is used worldwide but experience with it has shown that the majority of eyes initially treated with chemotherapy still require additional treatments, such as radiation, laser, cryotherapy or even enucleation. In addition blood transfusions, secondary infections, insertion of ports and permanent hearing loss are now well reported. Three years ago we developed this technique of Chemosurgery for significantly increasing the dose of drug to the cancer while decreasing the dose of drug administered to children. This approach has decreased the need for enucleation in advanced eyes scheduled for enucleation with minimal systemic toxicity. We now offer treatment of both eyes simultaneously (in bilateral cases) and to eyes with less advanced disease and normal vision as an alternative to toxic systemic chemotherapy. In cases of very advanced ocular disease we will be using multiple drugs infused at the same session to increase tumor kill.

Chemosurgery interventions are performed under general anesthesia. The femoral artery (artery at the groin) is punctured and a catheter (a small plastic tube)is advanced into the opthalmic artery (the artery of the eye)using fluoroscopic (X-ray) guidance. The drugs are injected directly into the opthalmic artery over a period of 30-45 min.The catheter is then removed, manual compression exerted to the femoral artery, the child is awaken and goes to recovery for 6 hours. The procedure is repeated every 3-4 weeks for a total of 2 to 6 sessions according to tumor response. Since April 2006, our center has treated by chemosurgery 60 eyes in 52 patients with advanced intra-ocular retinoblastoma for which enucleation was considered.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

100

Phase

  • Phase 2
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • New York
      • New York, New York, United States, 10065
        • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
      • New York, New York, United States, 10065
        • Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

1 month and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • advanced retinoblastoma in one or both eyes
  • recurrent retinoblastoma after failure of conventional methods

Exclusion Criteria:

  • retinoblastoma judged curable by conventional methods
  • patient judged unable to undergo the procedure

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
tumor control
Time Frame: 6 month
6 month

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
tumor control with vision
Time Frame: 6 month
6 month

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: David H Abramson, MD, Weill Cornell Medical College and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

May 1, 2006

Primary Completion (Actual)

July 1, 2009

Study Completion (Actual)

July 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 12, 2009

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 12, 2009

First Posted (Estimate)

May 13, 2009

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

December 17, 2009

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 16, 2009

Last Verified

December 1, 2009

More Information

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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