Differentiating agents may also be combined with chemotherapy to enhance the action of cytotoxic drugs on tumor cell growth, although this approach has not been fully investigated in retinoblastoma. Retinoblastoma cells have been shown to be sensitive to the differentiating agent sodium butyrate, and cell lines were also treated with a combination of VCR or CDDP with sodium butyrate, and the effects on retinoblastoma viability assessed. 1 mM sodium butyrate combined with VCR or CDDP significantly increased induction of apoptosis by these agents. This augmentation of chemotherapy-induced apoptosis may have implications for retinoblastoma therapy. TI - Fetal retinoblastoma.
Fetal tumors are sporadic entities and in some cases can be diagnosed prenatally.
A team approach, incorporating the skills of obstetricians, radiation therapists, pediatric medical oncologists and hematologists, neonatal surgeons, rehabilitation specialists, and social workers, is imperative to ensure that the patient receives the best treatment. Retinoblastoma is a relatively uncommon tumor of childhood that arises in the retina. The estimated annual incidence is between 1 in 15,000 and 1 in 34,000. We report a case of prenatally diagnosed fetal retinoblastoma. D-type Rb showed more marked necrotic areas, degeneration and calcification.