title: Phase II study of two-weekly temozolomide in patients with high-grade gliomas.
abstract: Palliative chemotherapy has an increasing role in the management of recurrent high-grade gliomas. Temozolomide is a well-tolerated agent that results in objective responses and stabilisation of disease. Theoretically, temozolomide may be more effective when given in a prolonged schedule rather than the standard 5 days-monthly schedule. This Phase II study examined the efficacy and toxicity of temozolomide when given in a two-weekly schedule. Twenty-five patients received 150 mg/m2 temozolomide daily for seven days alternating with seven days of no treatment. One cycle of temozolomide was a total of two weeks treatment in every 28 days. Of the 25 evaluable patients, there was one complete response (4%), four partial responses (16%) and 10 patients had disease stablisation (40%). The progression free survival at 6 months was 56%. Two-weekly temozolomide was well tolerated with only four episodes of Grade 3 thrombocytopenia. Overall, two-weekly temozolomide is an active and well tolerated schedule, but does not appear to improve on the activity of temozolomide using the standard 5-day schedule.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Haematology and Medical Oncology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. shirleys.wong@mh.org.au
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dowling
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jennens
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077204:Temozolomide; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D003606:Dacarbazine; D000077204:Temozolomide