title: A phase II evaluation of pentoxifylline combined with radiation in the treatment of brain metastases.
abstract: Pentoxifylline (PTX) has pharmacological properties that suggest potential utility as a radiation sensitizer, and preclinical animal studies have been promising. In a non-randomized phase II trial, we used PTX plus standard-dose external-beam whole-brain radiation treatment (WBRT) in patients with brain metastases. Seventeen patients were entered; 14 received both WBRT and PTX and were considered evaluable. Nine of the 14 completed treatment. Analyzing data on all 14 evaluable patients according to intent to treat, median survival time was 33 days, comparable to published data from historical controls. PTX toxicity was not a common cause of patient dropout, supporting higher PTX doses in future trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center, St. Louis, MO 63110-0250, USA.
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: McKirgan
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Raju
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Virgo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004244:Dizziness / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016312:Treatment Refusal; D014202:Tremor / Q000139:chemically induced; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D010431:Pentoxifylline