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Neuroblastoma: Clinical Perspectives, Monoclonal Antibodies, and Retinoic Acid
Abstract
Neuroblastoma, the second commonest solid tumor in children, is a neoplasm of the peripheral autonomic nervous system that usually occurs before children are 6 years old. Therapy of localized tumor (clinical stage I and II) and of a special form of metastatic tumor (clinical stage IV-S) is usually successful, but treatment of widespread regional (clinical stage III) or metastatic (clinical stage IV) neuroblastoma is almost uniformly unsuccessful. Unfortunately, two thirds of children have stage III or IV disease at diagnosis. Several clinical trials are in progress. Preclinical investigations with monoclonal antibodies and retinoic acid may lead to new therapies. Monoclonal antibodies that react relatively selectively with neuroblastoma cells may be useful for diagnosis and therapy. Neuroblastoma cells have cytoplasmic retinoicacid-binding proteins; treatment of cultured cells with retinoic acid induces morphologic maturation and markedly inhibits proliferation.
Article and Author Information
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▸An edited transcription of an Interdepartmental Conference arranged by the Department of Medicine of the UCLA School of Medicine; Los Angeles, California.
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▸Authors who wish to cite a section of this conference and specifically indicate its author can use this example of the form of the reference:
SIEGEL SE. Clinical characteristics, prognostic factors, and outcome, pp. 873-6. In: SEEGER RC, moderator. Neuroblastoma: clinical perspectives, monoclonal antibodies, and retinoic acid. Ann Intern Med. 1982;97:873-84.
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Grant support: grants CA 22794, CA 12800, CA 12582, CA 02649, and CA 23146, National Cancer Institute, Department of Health and Human Services; and the Concern Foundation, Inc.
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Robert C. Seeger, M.D.; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cancer Immunology and Biology, UCLA School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90024.
- © 1982 American College of Physicians
