Webinar: Anti-GD2 immunotherapy: A Game Changer in High-Risk Neuroblastoma-Webinar: Anti-GD2 immunotherapy: A Game Changer in High-Risk Neuroblastoma

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The transcript is a nursing and oncology-focused presentation on anti-GD2 immunotherapy for high-risk neuroblastoma, led by presenters from MSK and CHOP. It explains neuroblastoma as a malignant tumor of neural crest origin, most often arising in the adrenal gland and frequently metastatic at diagnosis. Because high-risk disease has historically had poor survival, anti-GD2 therapy has become a major advance.<br /><br />Two main antibodies are discussed: dinutuximab and naxitamab. Both target GD2, a glycolipid found on most neuroblastoma cells, and work by activating the immune system through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and complement-mediated killing. Dinutuximab is chimeric, typically given inpatient over long infusions, and is used in frontline post-consolidation therapy and in relapsed/refractory disease with chemotherapy and GM-CSF. Naxitamab is humanized, generally used outpatient, and is approved for relapsed/refractory high-risk neuroblastoma in bone and bone marrow with sargramostim.<br /><br />A large portion of the talk focuses on nursing care, administration logistics, and adverse event management. Common toxicities include fever, neuropathic pain, rash, hypotension, capillary leak, allergic reactions, and respiratory symptoms such as cough or bronchospasm. The presenters describe detailed supportive care strategies including premedications, hydration, pain control, monitoring, and escalation pathways for hypotension, anaphylaxis, pain, fever, and hypertension.<br /><br />They also highlight institutional innovations such as desensitization protocols, early discharge pathways, outpatient initiation of dinutuximab, step-up infusion methods for naxitamab, and use of omalizumab for severe urticaria. The presentation emphasizes that successful delivery of anti-GD2 therapy requires close collaboration among nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, pharmacy, child life, social work, and critical care teams.

Keywords

anti-GD2 immunotherapy

high-risk neuroblastoma

dinutuximab

naxitamab

GD2 glycolipid

antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity

complement-mediated killing

relapsed/refractory disease

nursing care

adverse event management

outpatient infusion