Phase III Randomized Trial of Single vs. Tandem Myeloablative Consolidation Therapy for High-Risk Neuroblastoma

This randomized phase III trial compares two different high-dose chemotherapy regimens
followed by a stem cell transplant in treating younger patients with high-risk neuroblastoma.
Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either
by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving combination chemotherapy
before surgery may make the tumor smaller and reduce the amount of normal tissue that needs
to be removed. Giving these treatments before a peripheral blood stem cell transplant helps
kill any tumor cells that are in the body and helps make room in the patient?s bone marrow
for new blood-forming cells (stem cells) to grow. After treatment, stem cells are collected
from the patient's blood and stored. High-dose chemotherapy and radiation therapy is then
given to prepare the bone marrow for the stem cell transplant. The stem cells are then
returned to the patient to replace the blood-forming cells that were destroyed by the high-
chemotherapy. It is not yet known which regimen of high-dose chemotherapy is more effective
for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma undergoing a peripheral blood stem cell transplant.