Neuroblastoma Program |概述
Becauseneuroblastomais rarely seen in adults, it is important that your child receive care from an experienced team of pediatric specialists who focus exclusively on treating childhood cancers. The Neuroblastoma Program atDana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Centertreats children with newly diagnosed neuroblastoma or relapsed neuroblastoma, and we provide innovative therapies for children with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma.
Our neuroblastoma specialists and surgeons are known for their expertise in delivering specialized treatments, including stem cell transplantation, as well as for treating the most complex cases.
How we approach neuroblastomas
Our doctors perform a variety of tests to diagnose neuroblastomas. Tests may include a 24-hour urine test to measure the amount of certain chemical products made by the tumor, cytogenetic analysis to check for certain changes in chromosomes, and bone marrow aspiration and biopsy to look for signs of cancer. We also use imaging studies —x-rays,CTandMRIscans, and超声— to evaluate the primary tumor and determine if it has spread. A procedure called an MIBG scan uses a radioactive molecule to help our doctors detect neuroblastomas. Many of these tests can also be used to stage the disease.
Treatment of neuroblastomas depends on the patient’s age at diagnosis, stage of the disease, location of the tumor, shape and structure of the tumor, and if it has spread elsewhere in the body. Standard treatments include surgery to remove the tumor, followed by local radiation therapy and high-dose chemotherapy to kill any remaining cancer cells. Biologic therapies may be used to boost or restore the body’s natural defense against cancer cells. Newer treatments include targeted therapies that attack specific cancer cells without harming nearby healthy cells and high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant to replace blood-forming cells destroyed by cancer treatment. We also use a vitamin-like drug, called 13-cis retinoic acid, to slow the cancer’s ability to make more cells.
Our Neuroblastoma Program treatment team
Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s patients have access to the broadest set of pediatric and oncologic expertise available. The breadth of our expertise allows us to assemble a team of specialists to meet the specific needs of each patient.
At the core of the treatment team is a pediatric oncologist who specializes in treating children with neuroblastomas. Many of our physicians are also active researchers, so our patients have access to the very best and up-to-date treatments available.
From there, we build a team that is best suited to carry out the patient’s treatment plan, including pediatric surgeons, hematology nurses, pediatric oncology nurse practitioners, imaging specialists, and pathologists. When necessary, our specialists work directly with our小儿干细胞移植团队.
我们将团队与专家组成，他们帮助孩子在治疗期间和治疗后为生活做准备，包括精神科医生和心理学家，儿童生活专家，社会工作者，营养学家和学校专家。
Our neuroblastoma research
Research is a top priority at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s, and our physicians work continuously to translate laboratory findings into clinical therapies. We sponsorclinical trials对于新诊断的神经母细胞瘤患者，通过儿童肿瘤学组（COG），以及通过COG和新的神经母细胞瘤治疗联盟的新方法，Dana-Farber/Boston Children's提供了新英格兰的I期临床研究，该研究为儿童的疾病复发。