[Therapeutic effect on glioblastoma of chemotherapy on the basis of brain irradiation].
OBJECTIVE
To study the efficacy of chemotherapy for glioblastoma on the basis of brain irradiation.


METHODS
It was previously reported that the permeability of the blood brain barrier (BBB) to methotrexate could be increased by brain irradiation. In this study, glioblastoma patients were divided into 2 groups, 28 patients in each group. On group of patients was treated with CCNU or BCNU after having given 20-40 Gy irradiation to the brain. The other group of patients received radiation treatment alone.


RESULTS
The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rate of the two groups of patients was 57.1%, 22.5%, 15.0% and 17.9%, 7.1%, 3.6%, respectively. The median survival time was 29.7 +/- 7.0 and 9.7 +/- 3.5 months, respectively (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Increase in permeability of the BBB after 20-40 Gy brain irradiation may provide an optimal chance for intracranial chemotherapy of glioblastoma.
Qin
D
D
Cancer Institute (Hospital), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
Mo
H
H
Ou
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002330:Carmustine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008130:Lomustine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D008130:Lomustine; D002330:Carmustine