Neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma Treatment

Appointment New Patient Appointment or 214-645-8300

Our multidisciplinary team has extensive experience treating children with neuroblastoma, which helps ensure superior care for patients. We’re skilled at coordinating care for young patients who need high-level attention from multiple subspecialists.

We customize our treatment plans to fit each patient’s unique circumstances. Our treatment approach depends on a variety of factors, such as the age of the patient and how far the cancer has spread.

For children with low-risk neuroblastoma, surgery alone is often adequate therapy.

Surgery for Neuroblastoma

Our pediatric surgeons aim to remove as much as the tumor as possible. This treatment might be combined with chemotherapy.

Medical Treatment for Neuroblastoma

Medical treatments include:

  • Chemotherapy: This powerful medication stops cancer cells from growing or destroys them.
  • Stem cell transplant: This treatment replaces unhealthy bone marrow with healthy cells, with the goal of restoring normal blood cell production.
  • MIBG therapy: This treatment uses a special compound, MIBG, combined with a radioactive iodine isotope (I-131) to specifically target neuroblastoma throughout the body.

Immune Therapy for Neuroblastoma

During this treatment, which sometimes follows chemotherapy and radiation, the patient receives antibodies and other medications that help the child’s own immune system to recognize and destroy the neuroblastoma cells.

Radiation Therapy for Neuroblastoma

Our radiation oncologists use high doses of radiation to safely destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors by damaging their DNA.

Supportive Care for Neuroblastoma

UT Southwestern offers a variety of support services to help our patients and their families during treatment and beyond, including:

Learn about all of the cancer support services available at UT Southwestern’s Simmons Cancer Center.