Efficacy of single-bolus vs. frequent low-dose treatment with nitrosourea in experimental gliomas.
BACKGROUND
Malignant glioma remains a fatal disease. Continuous or frequent low-dose (FLD) chemotherapy with nitrosoureas reportedly causes fewer side-effects than single-bolus therapy without decreasing the antitumour effects.


METHODS
To study the effect of FLD treatment with nimustine (ACNU) in rats with glioma, we intracerebrally inoculated with C6 glioma cells. We began the ACNU treatment 5 or 8 days later (total dose, 25 or 40 mg/kg) i.p. as either one bolus or smaller doses spread over 5 days week.


RESULTS
At a total dose of 25 mg/kg beginning at day 8, survival duration did not differ between untreated controls and the FLD group, while the bolus significantly prolonged survival; the FLD group showed some improvement beyond control survival at 40 mg/kg (each p <0.001). Beginning treatment after 5 rather than 8 days prolonged survival somewhat further.


CONCLUSIONS
FLD treatment with ACNU is less effective against experimental glioma in rats than bolus treatment.
Wu
C M
CM
Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Japan.
Inamura
T
T
Ikezaki
K
K
Nakamizo
A
A
Inoha
S
S
Yaosaka
F
F
Fukui
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D015376:Nimustine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015376:Nimustine