Metastatic neuroblastoma that does not respond to chemotherapy or that comes back after initial chemotherapy is very challenging to treat.

New approaches that are more targeted specifically to neuroblastoma cells are needed for such resistant tumors.  MIBG holds promise for cell-specific treatment of neuroblastoma.

Doctors at UCSF led a clinical trial of MIBG treatment for patients with resistant neuroblastoma.  This treatment led to decreases in tumor size or number of tumor spots in approximately one-third of patients, making MIBG one of the most active drugs for these patients.  In some patients, all of the tumor spots went away for a time. 

One of the major side effects of MIBG treatment is low blood counts, or bone marrow suppression. Giving a dose of the patient's own stem cells can help to improve blood counts after MIBG treatment.

Sometimes MIBG is combined with chemotherapy or other medications. This may make neuroblastoma cells more sensitive to MIBG treatment. Your doctor will decide whether your child should be treated with MIBG alone or in combination with other medications.