BEACON neuroblastoma study
The research is called the BEACON neuroblastoma study. A total of 160 children and young adults participated. They all received chemotherapy based on the drug temozolomide. Some also received irinotecan or topotecan. Part of them additionally received the drug bevacizumab.
Bevacizumab is not chemotherapy, but a targeted therapy. It inhibits the formation of blood vessels in a tumor, reducing tumor growth.
What did the study show?
Children who received chemotherapy and bevacizumab were more likely to respond to treatment. In 18 of 80 children, the disease was completely or partially reduced. This is more often than in children who received chemotherapy alone (14 out of 80).
In the group that received temozolomide, irinotecan and bevacizumab, the disease remained stable in two out of three children after one year. The side effects of this combination were usually well tolerated.
What does this mean?
These results give hope. Treatment with the combination of chemotherapy and bevacizumab appears to be a step forward in children with recurrent neuroblastoma. At the same time, we know that the prognosis in the event of recurrence or inadequate response to treatment can still be severe.
More research is needed. Therefore, a follow-up study has been done. In it, the combination with bevacizumab is compared with a new treatment with chemoimmunotherapy. This included the addition of dinutuximab. Results will follow soon.
More information
The Princess Máxima Center participated in the BEACON neuroblastoma study. Dr. Natasha van Eijkelenburg, Dr. Paco Bautista and Prof. Michel Zwaan were involved in the study. The study was conducted by a partnership of the Innovative Therapies for Children with Cancer (ITCC) and the European Association for Neuroblastoma Research (SIOPEN).
Would you like to read the scientific publication? Please look here:
Moreno L, et al. Bevacizumab, Irinotecan, or Topotecan Added to Temozolomide for Children With Relapsed and Refractory Neuroblastoma: Results of the ITCC-SIOPEN BEACON-Neuroblastoma Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2024 Jan 8:JCO2300458.