Early Use of Dinutuximab Beta in Patients with High‐Risk Neuroblastoma

Abstract

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children, accounting for 15% of all pediatric cancer deaths. High‐risk neuroblastoma (HRNB) is a particularly difficult‐to‐treat form of the disease that requires aggressive multimodality therapy, including induction chemotherapy, consolidation therapy with high‐dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant, and maintenance therapy with dinutuximab beta. Despite treatment advances, the prognosis of these patients remains poor. As a better response to induction therapy has been associated with prolonged survival in patients with HRNB, we hypothesized that early use of dinutuximab beta—post‐induction chemotherapy—may improve patient outcomes. We describe here our experience of administering at least one cycle of dinutuximab beta post‐induction and prior to surgery in three children with HRNB who did not demonstrate a complete response to induction chemotherapy. All three patients achieved complete remission. Early use of dinutuximab beta may therefore have the potential to improve outcomes in patients with HRNB.