13-cis retinoic acid treatment of a patient with chemotherapy refractory nephroblastomatosis

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2009 Apr;31(4):296-9. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0b013e3181979c70.

Abstract

A 9-month-old girl presented with massive bilateral diffuse nephroblastomatosis. After response to actinomycin D and vincristine over a period of 1 year, the nephroblastomatosis continuously progressed under this treatment. As retinoic acid signaling is critical for normal renal development and nephroblastomatosis seems histologically as undifferentiated embryonal tissue, we added 13-cis retinoic acid to the chemotherapy regimen. Three months thereafter, kidney volumes declined significantly over a period of 1 year. Interestingly, nephroblastomatosis-associated acquired von Willebrand disease also resolved. Retinoic acid maybe a novel nontoxic treatment option for nephroblastomatosis requiring further systematic evaluation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / administration & dosage
  • Dactinomycin / administration & dosage
  • Dermatologic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Isotretinoin / administration & dosage*
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Kidney Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Precancerous Conditions / drug therapy*
  • Precancerous Conditions / pathology
  • Vincristine / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Dermatologic Agents
  • Dactinomycin
  • Vincristine
  • Isotretinoin