3F8 MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH STAGE-4 NEUROBLASTOMA - A PHASE-II STUDY

3F8 is an IgG(3) murine monoclonal antibody directed against the gangl ioside G(D2). In a phase II study, 3F8 was administered i.v. to 16 pat ients (pts) who had stage 4 neuroblastoma. Response was seen in bony l esions (2 of 7 pts) and marrow (3 of 8 pts). Acute toxicities of pain, fever, urticaria, hypertension, hypotension and anaphylactoid reactio ns were self-limited and manageable. Three pts are long-term survivors between 79-130+ months after 3F8 treatment without additional systemi c therapy and no delayed neurological complications. The potential ben efits of 3F8 when added to chemoradio-therapy warrant further investig ation.