doxorubicin + vincristine + methotrexate + carboplatin

This multi-agent induction chemotherapy regimen is a specific protocol utilized in the PNET 5 MB international prospective clinical trial for children and young adults with medulloblastoma. Developed and sponsored by the Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, the regimen is designed for intensive cytoreduction in patients with high-risk biological profiles, such as WNT-activated or TP53-mutated medulloblastoma, prior to risk-adapted radiotherapy. The protocol typically consists of doxorubicin (which may be substituted with carboplatin if doxorubicin is contraindicated), vincristine, high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX), and carboplatin, along with intraventricular methotrexate. The components work through distinct mechanisms: doxorubicin intercalates DNA and inhibits topoisomerase II; vincristine disrupts microtubule assembly; methotrexate inhibits dihydrofolate reductase to prevent DNA synthesis; and carboplatin forms covalent DNA cross-links.

Other names

Induction Chemotherapy (PNET 5 MB)PNET 5 MB Induction RegimenPNET5 MB Induction RegimenPNET-5 MB Induction Regimeninduction chemotherapy-Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf-medulloblastoma