Post-operative sequential chemo-radiotherapy in high-grade cerebral gliomas with fotemustine.
High-grade gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors in adults. Twenty-seven patients with histopathologically proven anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme were enrolled in this study from November 1998 to August 2002. Radiotherapy was administered after surgery and fotemustine (100 mg/m2) was sequentially administered every 3 weeks for 6 cycles. Overall, 111 cycles were administered to the 27 patients (median, 5 cycles; range, 1 to 6 cycles). Myelosuppression was mild to moderate. The median overall survival and progression free survival were 11+/-3.1 months (95%CI, 4.9-17.1) and 8+/-0.5 months (95%CI 7.1-8.9), respectively. One-year and two-year survivals were calculated at 48% and 7%, respectively. Significant prognostic factors (P<0.05) via univariate analysis were divided into two groups: completion of 6 cycles of chemotherapy versus incompletion of 6 cycles of chemotherapy. This trial demonstrates that postoperative radiotherapy and sequential fotemustine therapy is feasible, well tolerated, and may prolong survival in patients with newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas.
Ozkan
M
M
Department of Medical Oncology, Erciyes University Medical Faculty, Kayseri, Turkey. metino@erciyes.edu.tr
Altinbas
M
M
Er
O
O
Kaplan
B
B
Coskun
H S
HS
Karahacioglu
E
E
Menku
A
A
Cihan
Y
Y
Kontas
O
O
Akdemir
H
H
D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016019:Survival Analysis
D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; C054368:fotemustine