MIBG Therapy for Neuroblastoma

Video Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING]

My favorite animals are elephants, giraffes, zebras, gorillas, monkeys, and sloths.

He was almost 18 months old, and he started getting really sleepy and not really eating, not really playing like a toddler is supposed to. So we took him to the doctor -- to our pediatrician -- to see what he could have had.

And they thought maybe he had a virus. It took about a week before we finally went to the ER and they did a scan, and that was when they found a tumor in his abdomen.

You never think something major like this would happen to you.

It was just sort of a quick whirlwind where all of a sudden, you're looking at the hospital, taking care of a child that has gone from fairly happy and playful to very sick, very quickly.

So Charlie was treated on a pilot clinical trial that was conducted here at the University of Chicago as part of a Children's Oncology Group clinical trial. And what we were piloting was whether or not the addition of a radio labeled new medication called MIBG would improve the outcome for children with newly diagnosed neuroblastoma.

As a family, I think it was important for us to maintain as much of a normal childhood for Charlie as much as possible. We definitely try to stay strong for him.

But the treatment started working right away and he started feeling better very, very quickly.

Charlie's remarkable. He is just a delight, and he actually -- even when he was very sick, you would walk into his room and there was always a smile on his face. I mean, he managed to get through this ordeal, and his parents also were remarkable. He has, so far, done very, very well.

Everything seems pretty normal for him. He's just full of energy.

Yes.

[LAUGHTER]

The University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital is the first medical center in Illinois to offer I131-MIBG therapy. I131-MIBG therapy is one step in a complex treatment plan for children with relapsed or difficult-to-treat neuroblastoma and is also being tested in newly diagnosed high-risk neuroblastoma patients.

Parents play an important role in caring for children receiving this unique therapy. We've prepared this information to help answer some of the questions you may have about the treatment.

What To Know About MIBG Therapy

What is I131-MIBG?

What is I131-MIBG therapy?

During the treatment, I131-MIBG (a clear liquid that looks like water) is administered to the patient through a central line. The infusion is painless and takes between 90 minutes and two hours. MIBG carries the radioactive iodine directly to the neuroblastoma cells. The tumor cells take up the MIBG and radiation. The radioactive iodine then attacks the cancer cells, shrinking the tumor.

After the radiation reaches the tumor, it leaves the child's body through bodily fluids (e.g. urine, saliva, skin secretions) over a few days. The child must be hospitalized and remain in bed with a catheter to collect urine during this time period. The typical hospital stay is three to five days.

Why is it important to have a designated MIBG room

While radiation can be effective in shrinking tumors and destroying cancer cells, it can also damage healthy tissue. Because I131-MIBG therapy is a radioactive medication, a designated room and specific equipment are necessary when delivering the therapy.

The I131-MIBG therapy room is a special hospital room built with lead-lined walls and doors. Large mobile lead shields are positioned around the child's bed. (Because lead is a thick, dense material, it stops, or absorbs, almost all of the radiation from radioactive iodine.)

For further protection, most of the surfaces and equipment in the room are covered with plastic during the treatment.

What role do parents play in the I131-MIBG treatment process?

Parents can prepare for this special hospitalization by:

Talking to your child about what to expect
Preparing your child to sleep alone in a bed
Meeting with our child life specialist
Planning for your child's comfort and entertainment while in isolation

Medical staff and parents are required to follow strict guidelines in order to control their exposure to radiation. Because the I131-MIBG medical team cares for many patients who receive this therapy, they must limit their time with each child in order to avoid too much exposure to radiation. For this reason, parents are the primary caregivers during their child's stay in the I131-MIBG therapy room. Prior to their child's hospitalization, parents will complete special training. One parent must be available at all times to assist with the child's daily care. At first, parents will have very limited time in the room. As the radiation level decreases each day, our radiation safety experts will determine how much additional time the primary caregiver can spend in the room.

An anteroom next to the I131-MIBG therapy room allows parents and children to communicate through closed circuit TV and iPads. A family room, which sleeps two, is located next door.

Who is on the I131-MIBG medical team?

The I131-MIBG medical team at Comer Children's takes great care and consideration when providing this leading-edge therapy to our patients. Everyone on the team has had special training in how to safely give I131-MIBG therapy. Our multidisciplinary team includes:

Oncologists
An advanced practice oncology nurse
Nuclear medicine physicians and technicians
Radiation safety experts
Radiopharmacists
Child life specialists
Social workers

Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Comprehensive Center of Excellence

Comprehensive Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Center of Excellence

UChicago Medicine is the first and only hospital in Illinois to earn the Comprehensive Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Center of Excellence designation from the Society of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging. This achievement recognizes UChicago Medicine as a leader in this growing field, and our commitment to providing the highest level of care and research.

Learn more about this important designation