Is there a role for high dose chemotherapy and blood stem cell rescue in childhood hepatoblastoma presenting with lung metastases? A case report and literature review

We report the use of high dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell rescue as a consolidation treatment for a 3-year-old child affected by metastatic hepatoblastoma, who achieved complete lung response only after conventional treatment. The patient is presently alive 27 months after high dose chemotherapy with blood stem cell rescue with no evidence of disease. The role of high dose chemotherapy with blood stem cell rescue to consolidate the complete clearing of lung disease in metastatic hepatoblastoma remains controversial; the data available in the literature and our experience seems to suggest to keep this treatment option open to further consideration in the clinical setting of high-risk patients.