A new phase III study suggests that immunotherapy may help treat children with neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that arises from nervous system cells. It is one of the most common cancers diagnosed during the first year of life.

The study included 226 children who were newly diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma. All participants received standard cancer treatment with surgery, chemotherapy, stem cell rescue and radiotherapy. One group also received standard treatment with retinoic acid plus immunotherapy, while the second group only received the standard treatment.

After two years, 66 percent of children in the immunotherapy group were still alive and did not have any cancer, compared to 46 percent in the standard treatment group. Overall survival in the immunotherapy group also improved significantly. The study was discontinued early because of the observed benefits, and all patients were given immunotherapy plus standard treatment.

The study will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in June.

1. American Society of Clinical Oncology. www.asco.org
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