Intra-arterial and oral digoxin therapy for retinoblastoma.

PURPOSE

Preclinical studies demonstrate that cardiac glycosides such as ouabain and digoxin have antitumor effects on retinoblastoma cells in vitro and in a xenograft murine model of retinoblastoma.

METHODS

Based on these findings, we report a case of intra-arterial followed by systemic oral digoxin therapy in a patient with unilateral retinoblastoma that had failed prior intra-arterial chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Oral administration of digoxin produced no effect, while intra-arterial digoxin therapy produced a modest but measurable response that was likely limited by the inability to achieve sustained drug concentration in the eye.

CONCLUSIONS

This case highlights both the potential promise and limitations of cardiac glycoside therapy in retinoblastoma.