Comparing efficacy and side effects of two systemic chemotherapy regimens for eye-preserving therapy in children with retinoblastoma

Abstract

Background: Eye-preserving therapy in retinoblastoma comprises systemic chemotherapy, but studies analyzing the efficacy of different chemotherapy regimens are scarce. Methods: The efficacy and side effects of two different eye-preserving chemotherapy regimens containing either vincristine, etoposide, and carboplatin (VEC) or cyclophosphamide, vincristine, etoposide, and carboplatin (CyVEC) were compared in a prospective non-interventional observational study including children diagnosed with retinoblastoma between 2013 and 2019 in Germany and Austria. Event-free eye survival (EFES) and overall eye survival (OES) of all 164 eyes treated with both regimens and risk factors were investigated. Results: The EFES after VEC (2-year EFES 72.3%) was higher than after CyVEC (2-year EFES 50.4%) (plogrank