New retinoblastoma tumor formation in children initially treated with systemic carboplatin.

Abstract

To determine the frequency and timing of new intraocular tumor formation in children with hereditary retinoblastoma initially treated with systemic carboplatin. Retrospective, noncomparative case series. This study included 34 children (57 eyes) with hereditary bilateral retinoblastoma initially treated with systemic carboplatin at the Robert M. Ellsworth Ophthalmic Oncology Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital from 1994 through 2000. New tumor formation after initial treatment with systemic carboplatin. There were a total of 165 tumors in 57 eyes. There were 63 new tumors in 27 eyes (47%) after administration of systemic carboplatin, for a mean of 1.1 new tumors per eye. The mean patient age at time of new tumor presentation was 9 months, with 57% of new tumors developing within 4 months of carboplatin treatment. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that children who were treated when younger than 6 months of age were more likely to have new tumors (60%) compared with those treated after 6 months of age (31%; P = 0.0182). New intraocular tumors continue to develop after systemic carboplatin; most new tumors appeared within 4 months of treatment.