Minimally disseminated disease and outcome in overt orbital retinoblastoma

Abstract

In this retrospective study of patients with overt orbital retinoblastoma, we evaluated minimally disseminated disease (MDD) in bone marrow and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using CRX and/or GD2 synthase as markers. Ten patients were evaluated-five (50%) at diagnosis and five upon relapse. MDD was detected in four cases (one in the bone marrow, two in the CSF, and in one case in both sites). All patients received chemotherapy and four received orbital radiotherapy. Seven patients relapsed or progressed and all of them died. Three patients remain in complete remission. There was no apparent correlation between MDD and the outcome.

Keywords: minimal residual disease; molecular biology; pediatric hematology/oncology; retinoblastoma; tumor markers.