A phase II study of irinotecan in children with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma: A European cooperation of the Société Française d’Oncologie Pédiatrique (SFOP) and the United Kingdom Children Cancer Study Group (UKCCSG)

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of irinotecan in paediatric recurrent or refractory neuroblastoma.Patients and Methods: Thirty seven patients aged between 6 months and ⩽20 years, with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma, received irinotecan at 600 mg/m2 administered as a 60-min infusion, every 3 weeks. Tumour response was evaluated by conventional radiological and mIBG scans every two cycles.Results: No objective response was observed during the study. Stable disease was observed in 13% of evaluable patients. Median times to progression and survival were 1.4 months (range, 1.2–1.5 months) and 8.8 months (range, 6.7–11.3 months), respectively. One forty two cycles were administered, with a median of two cycles per patient (range, 1–17 cycles). The most common grade 3–4 toxicities were neutropenia (65% of patients), anaemia (43%), thrombocytopenia (38%), vomiting (14%), abdominal pain or cramping (8%), and nausea (5%).Conclusion: Irinotecan administered intravenously as a single agent every 3 weeks induced no objective response in relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma.