[Efficacy and adverse effects of beta-interferon in the treatment of malignant glioma].
Sixteen patients with malignant glioma were treated by the intravenous administration of beta-interferon together with chemoradiotherapy. Five of the cases were recurrent gliomas. Seven of the 11 fresh cases were treated with beta-interferon, more than two months after cessation of the radiotherapy. Of the 16 cases, 12 cases showed partial regression of tumors, or no regrowth of tumors on CT scan, 2 cases showed no improvement, and 2 cases were unevaluable due to the short follow-up periods. IFN-beta is often administered, in combination with antineoplastic agents and radiotherapy, to patients with malignant glioma. Some patients have shown sufficient suppression of the growth of the malignant glioma only through administration of IFN-beta 1 x 10(6) IU once or twice a week. Some patients, however, have developed severe bone marrow suppression due to the combination therapy of IFN-beta and antineoplastic agents. Therefore, the blood of patients should be tested twice a week, and the data should be analyzed within the same day to determine the subsequent treatment. IFN-beta administration should be stopped if the platelet count drops below 1.0 x 10(5)/mm3 or half of the initial figure, and the course of disease of the patient should be carefully observed.
Oda
Y
Y
Konishi
T
T
Suzui
H
H
Kamijo
Y
Y
Kang
Y
Y
Okumura
T
T
Kaneko
T
T
Kikuchi
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007370:Interferon Type I