Combination chemotherapy using carboplatin (JM-8) and etoposide (JET therapy) for recurrent malignant gliomas: a phase II study.
BACKGROUND
To study efficacy and safety of chemotherapy using carboplatin (JM-8) and etoposide ("JET" therapy) for the treatment of recurrent malignant glioma, a phase II study was conducted. Tumour control, survival time, and toxicity/side effects were assessed in patients with recurrent malignant glioma which failed to respond to a postoperative combined auxiliary therapy comprising of IFN-beta, ACNU and radiation.


METHODS
Twenty-eight patients, fourteen with anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) and fourteen with glioblastoma (GB) were included in this study. The JET regimen consists of the intravenous administration of carboplatin (300 mg/m(2)) on day 1 and etoposide (60 mg/m(2)) on day 1 to 5, repeated every 6 weeks.


RESULTS
Following the therapy, we observed partial response (PR) in five (36%) of 14 patients with AA and two (14%) of 14 with GB, and stabilization of the disease (SD) in six (43%) in each group. The mean survival/survival after recurrence was 51 months/25 months in the AA group, and 17/9 in the GB group.


CONCLUSIONS
These results compare favorably with the natural course of recurrent malignant glioma. JET shows signs of efficacy in patients with recurrent malignant glioma, and a randomized trial comparing it to standard therapy is warranted.
Watanabe
K
K
Division of Neurosurgery, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Mibu, Tochighi, Japan.
Kanaya
H
H
Fujiyama
Y
Y
Kim
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015996:Survival Rate
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D005047:Etoposide; D016190:Carboplatin