International Review of Ophthalmology ›› 2014, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (5): 289-293.doi: DOI: 10.3760/ cma. j. issn.1673-5803.2014.05.001

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Intravitreal chemotherapy for retinoblastoma

BAI Hai-xia, XU Xiao-lin, LI Bin.   

  1. Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Science Key Laboratory, Beijing 100005, China
  • Received:2014-06-24 Online:2014-10-22 Published:2014-10-24
  • Contact: LI Bin, Email: libin43_99@163.com

Abstract: Vitreous seeding is common in retinoblastoma. As vitreous is lack of blood supply, chemotherapy drugs can hardly reach the effective concentration in the eye. Intravenous chemotherapy and ophthalmic arterial chemotherapy have improved the salvage of the globe in patients with retinoblastoma. However, persistent or recurrent viable vitreous seeds become one of the most challenging conditions for eyepreservation therapy. In recent years, intravitreal injection therapy (IViT) has attracted great attention. Intravitreal injection of melphalan or other antitumor drugs has demonstrated success in the treatment of vitreous seeds with less side effects. To further reduce the risk of intraocular toxicity, we should use drugs at safe doses and improve the injection technique. Although IViC appears to offer a comparatively safe and efficient salvage option to refractory and recurrent vitreous seeds, its validation awaits the results of a prospective phase II clinical trial. In this review, we summarized the recent research progress in IViT for retinoblastoma with vitreous seeding in terms of its effectiveness, complications and safety improvement.  (Int Rev Ophthalmol, 2014, 38:   289-293)