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

Overview

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency and timing of new intraocular tumor formation in children with hereditary retinoblastoma initially treated with systemic carboplatin. DESIGN: Retrospective, noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: 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. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: New tumor formation after initial treatment with systemic carboplatin. RESULTS: 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). CONCLUSIONS: New intraocular tumors continue to develop after systemic carboplatin; most new tumors appeared within 4 months of treatment.