title: Stereotaxic implantation of 5-fluorouracil-releasing microspheres in malignant glioma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The authors developed a new method of drug delivery into the brain using implantable, biodegradable microspheres. The strategy was evaluated initially to provide localized and sustained delivery of the radiosensitizer 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) after patients underwent surgical resection of malignant glioma. In this study, the microspheres were implanted by stereotaxy into deeply situated and inoperable brain tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients with newly diagnosed, inoperable, malignant gliomas were included in the study, and 1 dose of 5-FU was studied (132 mg). After histologic confirmation, a suspension of poly(D-L lactide-co-glycolide) 5-FU-loaded microspheres was implanted by stereotaxy into the tumor in one or several trajectories with one to seven deposits per trajectory. External beam radiation (59.4 grays) was started before postoperative Day 7. Patients were followed by clinical examination, computed tomography scanning, magnetic resonance imaging, and 5-FU assays in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of trajectories was adapted to the size and shape of the tumor. Microsphere implantation was tolerated well, except in four patients who received a single trajectory and experienced a transitory worsening of preexisting neurologic symptoms. There were no episodes of edema or hematologic complications. 5-FU was detected in CSF and blood in some patients at very low concentrations. The median overall survival was 40 weeks, with 2 patients who had longer survival (71 weeks and 89 weeks, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, the authors demonstrated that biodegradable microspheres could be implanted by stereotaxy and were efficient systems for drug delivery into brain tumors. This method may have future applications in the treatment of patients other malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire d'Angers, 49033 Angers Cedex 01, France. phmenei@chu-angers.fr
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Menei
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jadaud
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Faisant
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boisdron-Celle
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michalak
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delhaye
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Benoit
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004343:Drug Implants; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D008875:Middle Aged; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004343:Drug Implants; D005472:Fluorouracil