Klin Padiatr 2013; 225 - A40
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1343657

Evaluation of clinical responses following long-term infusion of anti-GD2 antibody ch14.18/CHO in high-risk neuroblastoma patients

I Müller 1, S Kietz 1, HN Lode 1
  • 1University Medicine Greifswald, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Greifswald, Germany

Purpose: GD2 is highly expressed in neuroblastoma (NB) and specifically recognized by antibody ch14.18/CHO. Immunotherapy with bolus infusion of ch14.18 in combination with cytokines effectively prolonged survival associated with substancial toxicity. Therefore, we piloted a treatment using continuous infusion of ch14.18 and report first results of clinical responses.

Methodes and Marterials: Clinical response was assessed by mIBG, MRI/CT, bone marrow- and catecholamine- analysis before, after 3 and after 5/6 cycles of immunotherapy.

Results: 41/37 pilot patients received up to 6 cycles of 6 × 106 IU/m2 s.c. IL-2 (d1 – 5; 8 – 12), continuous infusion of 100 mg/m2 ch14.18/CHO (d8 – 17) and 160 mg/m2 oral 13-cis-RA (d19 – 32). Only Patients with measurable disease before immunotherapy were subjected to response evaluation. MIBG-, MRI/CT-, bone marrow- and catecholamine- responses were 11/31 (35.5%), 5/14 (35.7%), 4/19 (21.0%) and 7/18 (38.9%), respectively. External review of mIBG responses confirmed a 32.1% response rate (9/28) in these pilot patients.

Conclusion: Long-term infusion of anti-GD2 antibody ch14.18/CHO in this setting clearly shows clinical activity in high-risk NB patients.