MIBG Therapy for Neuroblastoma

Dana-Farber/Boston Children's was the first hospital in New England to offer MIBG therapy (metaiodobenzylguanidine) to treat high-risk neuroblastoma (including relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma) and is currently one of only about 10 hospitals in the country to provide this therapy.

Metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) is a compound that can be combined with radioactive iodine (I-131) to deliver targeted radiation therapy. Originally developed as a blood pressure medication, oncologists began using it more recently to deliver targeted radiation to neuroblastoma. I-131 MIBG is administered to a child through an intravenous line and absorbed by tumor cells, which are killed by radiation emitted by the radioactive I-131. This therapy destroys tumors while sparing normal, healthy tissue. MIBG therapy is generally more effective, less painful, and requires less time in the hospital than other treatment options.

Learn more about how MIBG therapy is used to treat neuroblastoma on the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute website.