Old drugs still work! Oral etoposide in a relapsed medulloblastoma

Abstract

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. Approximately 30% of children with medulloblastoma will progress or relapse despite being treated. New therapies have been proposed in recent years, including high-dose chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. However, the best treatment for these patients remains unclear, and in this situation prognosis is poor. Oral etoposide has been used as a single agent or in combination for treating relapsed brain tumors since the 1990s. We report an 8-year-old patient with recurrent metastatic medulloblastoma who had an excellent response after treatment with oral etoposide, maintaining a great quality of life. As clinicians, we must always try to include our patients in clinical trials; however, when this is not possible, we should not forget that "old drugs" such as oral etoposide may work in some patients, with a good response of the tumor, and what is most important, providing the patient with a good quality of life.

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