title: Intra-arterial chemotherapy of primary brain tumors.
abstract: Intra-arterial (IA) chemotherapy is a form of regional delivery to brain tumors, designed to enhance the intra-tumoral concentrations of a given drug, in comparison with the intravenous route. Drugs that are likely to benefit from IA delivery have a rapid systemic clearance and include carmustine and other nitrosoureas, cisplatin, carboplatin, etoposide, and methotrexate. Clinical studies have demonstrated activity of IA chemotherapy approaches for low- and high-grade gliomas, and for cerebral lymphomas. However, a survival benefit for IA drug delivery, in comparison with intravenous administration, has not been proven in phase III trials. The technique is limited by the potential for significant vascular and neurologic toxicity, including visual loss, stroke, and leukoencephalopathy. More recent studies suggest that toxicity can be reduced by the use of carboplatin- and methotrexate-based regimens. Further clinical studies will be needed to determine the appropriate role for IA chemotherapy in the treatment of primary brain tumors.
authors.affiliation: Dardinger Neuro-Oncology Center and Division of Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University Medical Center and James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, 1654 Upham Drive, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. newton.12@osu.edu
authors.forename: Herbert B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Newton
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents