Response to chemotherapy of a radiation-induced glioblastoma multiforme.
BACKGROUND
Radiation-induced glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is particularly resistant to treatment and therapeutic options are limited. We report a patient with a radiation-induced GBM who had a complete response to carmustine and survived for 44 months.


METHODS
Case report of a 38-year-old man with a radiation-induced GBM that responded to carmustine.


RESULTS
Our patient developed a left occipital GBM 35 years after a left cerebellar astrocytoma was treated with surgery and radiation therapy (4500 rad). The GBM was treated with subtotal resection followed by four cycles of carmustine; a complete response was achieved. He relapsed 34 months after diagnosis and with further surgery survived 44 months from his diagnosis of GBM.


CONCLUSIONS
GBMs may be a late complication of radiation treatment for pediatric brain tumors. If further radiotherapy is not a therapeutic option, chemotherapy may result in prolonged survival.
Nicolardi
Linda
L
School of Medicine, Padua University, Padua, Italy.
DeAngelis
Lisa M
LM
D000328:Adult; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002330:Carmustine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D002330:Carmustine