Neuroblastoma is a cancerous tumor that occurs in nerve tissue of young children. Our Neuroblastoma Program’s specialists provide expert, compassionate treatment for newly diagnosed patients as well as innovative therapies for children with relapsed and hard-to-treat neuroblastoma. Our treatment is based on the latest clinical research.
About the Program
Neuroblastoma is a cancerous tumor that occurs in nerve tissue of young children. It is most commonly diagnosed in children younger than five and rarely occurs after the age of 10.
At Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, our neuroblastoma specialists provide expert, compassionate treatment for newly diagnosed patients as well as innovative therapies for children with relapsed and hard-to-treat neuroblastoma.
Our treatment is based on the latest clinical research. Dana-Farber and Boston Children’s Hospital have two of the world’s most extensive research programs. Our scientists work directly with our doctors so that the newest treatments are always available.
- Your child’s care team will be led by a pediatric oncologist and pediatric oncology nurse practitioner who specialize in treating children with neuroblastoma.
- Our pediatric surgeons are nationally recognized for expertly removing neuroblastoma tumors.
- We are the only center in New England, and one of few in the country, offering I-131 MIBG Therapy for children with relapsed neuroblastoma.
- Our neuroblastoma specialists work directly with our Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation team.
- Through the Children's Oncology Group and the New Approaches to Neuroblastoma Therapy (NANT) Consortium, we offer the most Phase I studies in New England for children whose disease has recurred.
- We offer long-term treatment and support programs for survivors of childhood cancer through Dana-Farber’s David B. Perini, Jr. Quality of Life Clinic.
Our Treatment Approach
Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Neuroblastoma Program coordinates all aspects of care for children with neuroblastoma. Because neuroblastoma is rarely seen in adults, it’s important to work with specialists who focus exclusively on treating childhood cancers.
We offer treatments for newly diagnosed patients as well as innovative therapies for children with relapsed and hard-to-treat neuroblastoma.
We consider you and your child integral parts of the care team. You and your team will work together to customize a plan of care for your child.
Our pediatric specialists are known for treating children with the most complex cases as well as for their expertise in delivering specialized treatments, such as stem cell transplantation. We integrate care from other pediatric subspecialties at Boston Children's Hospital into your child's treatment plan.
Our coordinated care team includes:
- pediatric oncologists
- pediatric radiation oncologists
- pediatric surgeons
- pediatric oncology nurse practitioners
- other pediatric subspecialists as needed
- social workers
We are the only center in New England, and one of few in the country, offering I-131 MIBG therapy for children with relapsed neuroblastoma. I-131 MIBG is a radioactive isotope that can be used to directly target and kill neuroblastoma cells. Our stem cell transplant unit includes a designated MIBG infusion room where children stay during treatment.
Read more about I-131 MIBG therapy on the Boston Children’s Hospital website.
Survivors and long-term care
As research leads the way to improved therapies, the number of children diagnosed with neuroblastoma and surviving into adulthood is increasing.
It’s important for all childhood cancer survivors to pay special attention to their daily health so they can quickly address any side effects or secondary conditions caused by their cancer treatment.
We offer long-term care for cancer survivors through Dana-Farber's David B. Perini Jr. Quality of Life Clinic, which offers access to experts who can address health concerns such as intellectual function, hormonal evaluation and treatment, neurological assessment, and dental evaluation and treatment.
The Treatment Team
Our staff of compassionate and experienced pediatric specialists includes hematologist oncologists and radiation oncologists with expertise in treating neuroblastoma. Our physicians are focused on family-centered care: From your first visit, you’ll work with a team of professionals who are committed to supporting all of your family’s physical and psychosocial needs.
- Suzanne Shusterman, MD, director of the Neuroblastoma Program
Shusterman is a hematologist oncologist specializing in the treatment of pediatric neuroblastoma. She is an attending physician at Boston Children’s Hospital and an assistant professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. Her research efforts focus on the development of new treatments for neuroblastoma.
- Lisa R. Diller, MD
Diller is an experienced hematologist oncologist, the Chief Medical Officer of Dana-Farber/Boston Children's and the Clinical Director of Pediatric Oncology at Dana-Farber. She specializes in the treatment of solid tumors, including neuroblastoma and Wilms’ tumor, and the late effects of pediatric cancer.
- Rani George, MD, PhD
George is an attending physician at Boston Children’s Hospital. In addition, she is an assistant professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. Her research focuses in developing new, targeted therapies for the treatment of neuroblastoma.
- Karen J. Marcus, MD
Marcus specializes in pediatric oncology and radiation oncology. She treats children with a wide variety of cancers including brain tumors, sarcomas, neuroblastoma, leukemias, kidney tumors, and Hodgkin lymphoma. In addition, she is an associate professor at Harvard Medical School and co-chair of Pediatric Oncology Institutional Review Board.
- Robert C. Shamberger, MD
Shamberger is Boston Children’s Hospital’s Chief of Surgery and has expertise in surgical oncology. He is a professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. His research focuses on the treatment of neuroblastoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, Wilms’ tumor and inflammatory bowel disease.
- Christopher Weldon, MD, PhD
Weldon is a pediatric general surgeon with expertise in pediatric oncology and surgical critical care. His research focuses on chemotherapy resistance in solid tumors. He is also an instructor at Harvard Medical School.
Clinical Research
Research is a top priority at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's, and our physicians work continuously to translate laboratory findings into clinical therapies.
It’s possible that your child will be eligible to participate in one of the Neuroblastoma Program’s current clinical trials. In addition to launching our own clinical trials, we offer clinical trials for newly diagnosed patients through the Children's Oncology Group.
We also offer the most Phase I studies in New England for children whose disease has recurred, through the Children's Oncology Group and the New Approaches to Neuroblastoma Therapy (NANT) consortium.
Current areas of innovative treatments include:
- I-131 MIBG, a radioisotope proven to effectively target and kill neuroblastoma cells for children with recurrent neuroblastoma
- angiogenesis inhibitors that may be able to prevent the growth of tumors by blocking the formation of new blood vessels that feed the tumors
- biological therapies that help the body's own immune system to fight cancer or lessen harmful side effects of some treatments
Clinical trials
Clinical trials are studies that evaluate the effectiveness of new interventions. There are different types of cancer clinical trials, such as prevention trials, early detection trials, and treatment trials. The Neuroblastoma Program participates in several multi-center national clinical trials.
Contact Us
Referring physicians: 617-632-5508 or 1-888-Pedi-Onc (733-4662)
New patients and second opinions
We know that a neuroblastoma diagnosis is extremely difficult to cope with. We are available to offer a consultation or second opinion for your child.
If your child has been diagnosed with neuroblastoma, please contact our program at 888-PEDI-ONC (888-733-4662).
To help us conduct a precise evaluation, it is important we receive a full summary of your child's initial diagnosis at hand. This includes any laboratory or pathology reports, any x-ray, radiographic or MRI images, as well as a list of any previous treatments your child may have received.
Please have as much of the following information gathered as possible when you call or bring it with you to your appointment:
Patient summary
- your child’s date of birth
- your address
- parent or guardian contact information
- insurance information
Complete clinical summary
- physician's name and contact information
- diagnosis, or working diagnosis, and list of presenting symptoms
- MRI/CAT scan films
- pathology slides and reports
- operative note, if surgery was performed
- radiation therapeutic summary, if your child had radiation
- comprehensive list of previous chemotherapeutic agents, with dates and doses, if your child had chemotherapy
Mailing addresses
Boston Children's Hospital
300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
450 Brookline Avenue
Boston, MA 02215