Manuel Verdecia Jarque
Hospital Infantil Sur. Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.
Title: Immunotherapy with Nimotuzumab in pediatric brain tumors
Biography
Biography: Manuel Verdecia Jarque
Abstract
The pediatric cancer prevails less than that in adults, but its tendency is to increase. In Cuba, 400 new cases arise each year, and between 50 and 60 in our Service are diagnosed from 2005. Brain tumors occupy the third place of all pediatric tumors, after the leukemia and lymphomas. 50-60 % of brain tumors originate in back cavity (astrocytomas, medulloblastomas and ependynomas), whereas 40-50 % remaining are supratentorial. Primitive neuroectodermal tumors appear in any brain space. This study shows the experiences of a clinical trial, in which is combined the human monoclonal antibody Nimotuzumab with conventional oncologic therapies in intrinsic tumors of cerebral stalk and other localizations. The results show that female sex, astrocytoma (histologic variety) and infratentorial (topographically) prevail, in agreement with the literature. 50 % of treated patients have a satisfactory response, whereas 50 % remaining disease progression. The best response is obtained for Infratentorial tumors. In conclusion, Nimotuzumab, as immunotherapy, is feasible for pediatric patients with brain tumors and therefore may constitute another therapeutic option for them.