Klin Onkol 1996; 9(6): 175-179.
Summary: Neuroblastoma originates in the neural crest cells that form the sympathetic nervous system. Its incidence is 8-10 per million yearly. It is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children. Despite the development of new treatment regimens, the prognosis is poor for 60 % of patients. The disease-free survival for poor prognosis neuroblastoma ranges between 0 % and 20 % after conventional therapy. Several studies investigate the role of marrow ablative therapy followed by bone marrow transplantation (BMT) as a component of the first line therapy for children with high risk neuroblastoma. In this paper we review the experience of several groups and teams in the use of megatherapy followed by BMT in children with neuroblastoma since 1982. In several studies we showed a significant improvement in survival under purged autologous bone marrow transplant.
