High-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of recurrent medulloblastoma in children

Medulloblastoma (MB) recurrence can manifest in various clinical ways and still remains a major therapeutic challenge. As reported in the international literature, high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) has low effectiveness and severe toxicity in patients with recurrent MB. Here, we analyzed the effectiveness and tolerability of HDCT with auto-HSCT in 9 pediatric and adolescent patients with MB relapses whose histological samples and magnetic resonance images had been reviewed at the Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology from July 2013 till December 2021. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the HDCT with auto-HSCT approach for the treatment of MB relapses in pediatric patients. The study was approved by the Independent Ethics Committee and the Scientific Council of the Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology of Ministry of Healthcare of Russia.