INTRA ARTERIAL CHEMO THERAPY FOR RETINOBLASTOMA

Patients  with unilateral or bilateral intra-ocular retinoblastoma who would otherwise be treated by systemic chemotherapy, radiation, or  surgical removal of the eye , laser or cryotherapy are considered for this treatment.

Patients with extraocular retinoblastoma on MRI, disorders of coagulation or vasculopathy, and abnormal renal function are not eligible to receive this treatment.

Systemic chemotherapy involves injecting anti-cancer medications into a vein or giving them by mouth. This exposes the entire body to significant doses of chemotherapy, which can make the patient sick as it fights the cancer. 

Intra-arterial chemotherapy delivers the anti-cancer medication directly to the tumor via the ophthalmic artery, thereby transforming the treatment from systemic to local chemotherapy and limiting the complications and adverse events associated with toxicity from systemic chemotherapy.

This procedure involves administering chemotherapy agents - melphalan and topotecan, through the ophthalmic artery to treat the retinoblastoma.

Delivering the chemotherapy directly through the artery supplying the eye (ophthalmic artery) in certain patients with retinoblastoma is an acceptably safe and effective treatment alternative to conventional systemic chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical removal of the eye.