title: [Temozolomide in patients with melanoma brain metastases treated with whole brain irradiation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Whole brain irradiation (WBRT) remains a recommended treatment for patients with brain metastases from malignant melanoma. Temozolomide (TMZ) displays efficacy for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. Our objective was to evaluate the potential benefit of TMZ administered along with WBRT.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have conducted a retrospective study in a group of 26 patients comparing WBRT (n = 10) (20 Gy/5 fr) with WBRT+TMZ (n = 16) administered as a single chemotherapeutic agent (200 mg/m2) or in combination with chemoimmunotherapy (150 mg/m2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median survival of the total group (n = 26) was 3 months (CI 95%, 2-4 months). The median survival of the WBRT+TMZ group was 6 months (CI 95%, 0-12 months), while the median survival of the WBRT group was 1 month (CI 95%, 1-2 months) (p < 0.0001). The analysis of survival at different time intervals (90, 180 and 270 days) showed a clear benefit for the group treated with WBRT + TMZ (p = 0.016).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggests a benefit of TMZ added to WBRT in terms of long-term survival for patients with melanoma brain metastases.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Oncología Radioterápica. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS). Universidad de Barcelona. Barcelona. Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conill
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernández-Ibiza
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malvehy
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puig
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Castel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D000077204:Temozolomide
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D003606:Dacarbazine; D000077204:Temozolomide