DEFEROXAMINE FOLLOWED BY CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE, ETOPOSIDE, CARBOPLATIN, THIOTEPA, INDUCTION REGIMEN IN ADVANCED NEUROBLASTOMA - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS

Based upon phase I and II studies of deferoxamine alone and in combina tion with cytotoxic agents cyclophosphamide, etoposide, carboplatin, a nd thiotepa (D-CECaT), we initiated a single arm multicentre trial in 1992 for advanced neuroblastoma. 57 of 65 patients who entered the tri al were evaluable. Following 4 courses of the D-CECaT, almost all the patients underwent surgery. Toxicity was moderate and mainly reversibl e myelosuppression. The post-surgically defined responses in stage 3 h igh risk, stage 4 moderate risk and stage 4 high risk patients include d 24 complete responses, 26 partial responses, and 3 minor responses, and 4 patients had progressive disease. These patients are being follo wed to determine the impact of this programme on their overall surviva l.