Neuroblastoma Treatment in Private Koru Ankara Hospital

Neuroblastoma care at Private Koru Ankara Hospital in Ankara, Turkey, includes diagnosis, surgery, drug therapy, radiation, and stem cell transplantation. The hospital holds JCI accreditation and has an on-site Bone Marrow Transplantation Centre. Prof. Dr. Suna Emir, a pediatric hematology and oncology specialist, has over 35 years of experience and belongs to SIOP and ASCO.

Diagnosis with PET/CT and molecular testing

The pediatric team can assess the tumor and plan further tests with a pediatric surgeon, radiologists, and laboratory specialists.

• Imaging: Options include ultrasound, X-ray, CT, MRI, Gallium PET/CT, and scintigraphy. Pediatric radiology provides advanced imaging.
• Laboratory tests: Tests include tumor markers, molecular genetics, and flow cytometry. The pathology laboratory offers rapid results.

Neuroblastoma treatment options

• Surgical resection: Pediatric surgeons remove neuroblastoma through laparoscopic, endoscopic, or open surgery. Day-case surgery may suit some cases.
• Chemotherapy: Treatment may be intravenous, oral, or intrathecal. Protocols may be neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or palliative.
• High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation: Stem cells are collected from blood by apheresis and stored at -196°C. They are reinfused after chemotherapy. This approach supports high-dose treatment in certain solid tumors.
• Allogeneic stem cell transplantation: Donor cells may come from bone marrow, peripheral blood, or umbilical cord blood.
• Radiation therapy: Options include IMRT, IGRT, and stereotactic radiosurgery using an Elekta Versa HD linear accelerator.
• Gamma Knife radiosurgery: This non-invasive option treats brain tumors, including cases handled by pediatric neurosurgery.
• Immunotherapy: Immune checkpoint inhibitors target PD-1, PD-L1, or CTLA-4. The team manages side effects proactively.
• Targeted therapy: Next-generation sequencing examines tumor genes. Liquid biopsy can monitor treatment response.
• Clinical research treatments: Options may include CAR-T cell therapy, bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and cancer vaccines for disease resistant to standard treatment.
• Pediatric neurosurgery: Brain and nervous system tumors may be treated with minimally invasive methods, neuronavigation, endoscopy, and intraoperative monitoring.

A tumor board brings together oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, pathologists, and radiologists to agree on a treatment plan. Supportive and palliative care includes nausea control, infection prevention, nutrition, and psychological support. Child psychologists, social workers, and child life specialists also support families, with follow-up for late side effects. To explore these options, patients can request a consultation through Bookimed.