title: [Chemotherapy of brain tumors in childhood. Review of the literature and pilot protocol].
abstract: The evaluation of 29 phase II studies demonstrate a complete, partial, and unequivocal response (CR + PR/UR) in 36% of 739 reported patients. A response rate of 55% has been reached in studies with initial neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Regarding different histologic types chemotherapy produced response rates of 56% in PNETs (primitive neuroectodermale tumors), 49% in medulloblastomas, 32% in ependymomas, 31% in brain stem gliomas, and 30% in astrocytomas/glioblastomas. Concerning a variety of cytotoxic drugs the following response rates have been observed: 59% with cyclophosphamide (monotherapy + combinations), 52% with MOPP/COPP, 48% with "8 in 1", 46% with BCNU/CCNU combinations, 42% with procarbazine combinations, 32% with cisplatin (22% with monotherapy; 64% with combinations), and 24% with AZQ (monotherapy + combinations). Because of the poor outcome of children with malignant brain tumors, and concerning the present evaluation as well as few phase III studies the brain tumor study group of the german society of pediatric oncology (GPO) created a pilot multidrug regimen including procarbazine (or 5-fluorouracil), ifosfamide + VP 16, hd methotrexate, and cisplatin + cytosinarabinoside. We observed one unequivocal response and one stable disease in two children after one course of this regimen without complications.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Kinderklinik Würzburg.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kühl
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects
vernacular_title: Chemotherapie bei Hirntumoren im Kindesalter. Literaturübersicht und Pilotprotokoll.