New approach of chemotherapy for the treatment of retinoblastoma: a review

Abstract

Retinoblastoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy of childhood. A potentially curable cancer, its treatment has improved significantly over the last few decades. In developed world current treatment options aim to preserve the globe as well as vision with minimum morbidity. High resolution imaging has improved tumor detection and is useful for prognosticating cases and monitoring response to treatment. Targeted chemotherapy has shown promising results and these routes are being increasingly employed world-wide for globe preservation. Chemotherapy is currently used as a first line approach for children with this malignancy and can be delivered by intravenous, intra-arterial, periocular, and intravitreal routes. The choice of route for chemotherapy administration depends upon the tumor laterality and tumor staging. This review aims to highlight newer advancements in the field of management of retinoblastoma that have been introduced in recent times, with a special emphasis on globe-preserving therapy.