title: Interstitial chemotherapy plus systemic chemotherapy for glioblastoma patients: improved survival in sequential studies.
abstract: We investigated the efficacy of 3 different systemic chemotherapy regimes in 122 patients with histologically confirmed glioblastoma, KPS > 60, age < 65. Locoregional chemotherapy was delivered to 22 patients from all three systemic chemotherapy groups. Chemotherapy was given before and during radiotherapy, which was the same for all patients consisting of unconventional fractionation with a break between courses. Survival (Kaplan-Meier) was significantly longer in the subgroup receiving cisplatinum plus BCNU compared to those receiving cisplatinum plus etoposide or carboplatinum plus BCNU with median survival time 21.5 months, 15 months and 15 months respectively (log rank test p = 0.01). Survival was also significantly longer in patients who received locoregional therapy compared to those who received only systemic chemotherapy (21 vs 15 months, p = 0.01). Univariate analysis showed that age, postoperative Karnofsky status and extent of resection were not predictive of survival in the series, although there were trends to better outcome in younger patients and those undergoing total/subtotal resection. Age, systemic chemotherapy type and interstitial treatment were included in a multivariate analysis, and both locoregional treatment and chemotherapy with cisplatinum plus BCNU were significantly predictive of survival [P = 0.01]. These encouraging preliminary results suggest that further trials with locoregional and systemic therapy prior to radiotherapy are worth pursuing.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boiardi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silvani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pozzi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fariselli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Broggi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salmaggi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002330:Carmustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D011182:Postoperative Care; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D005047:Etoposide; D016190:Carboplatin; D002945:Cisplatin; D002330:Carmustine