Ganglioside GD2 Specific Antibodies in the Diagnosis and Therapy of Human Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma (NB), one of the more common solid tumors in the pediatric age group, accounts for 7—14% of all childhood malignancies. ¹ It is a malignant neoplasm originating in the paraspinal sympathetic ganglia or adrenal medulla that metastasizes to lymph nodes, bone marrow, liver, and bones. Two thirds of children with neuroblastoma present with metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. Although metastatic neuroblastoma is often responsive to chemotherapy initially, drug resistance usually develops within 12 months, and long-term survival in older children is rare. ² Aggressive chemotherapy using high-dose cis-platinum, VM26 or VP16, ^3,4 melphalan, ⁵ cyclophosphamide, or their combinations has added to the overall response rate of these patients. Ablative doses using these drug combinations in patients who achieved complete remissions, followed by autologous or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation have been encouraging. ⁶ Although many patients achieved complete remissions after aggressive chemotherapy, less than 40% of this favorable group are long-term survivors. ⁶