Targeted therapy with antineoplastons A10 and AS2-1 of high-grade, recurrent, and progressive brainstem glioma.
BACKGROUND
Brainstem glioma carries the worst prognosis of all malignancies of the brain. Most patients with brainstem glioma fail standard radiation therapy and chemotherapy and do not survive longer than 2 years. Treatment is even more challenging when an inoperable tumor is of high-grade pathology (HBSG). The objective of this report is to summarize the outcome of patients with HBSG treated with antineoplastons in 4 phase 2 trials.


METHODS
The following group of 18 patients was evaluable: 4 patients with glioblastomas and 14 patients with anaplastic HBSG. Fourteen patients had diffuse intrinsic tumors. Twelve patients suffered from recurrence, and 6 patients did not have radiation therapy or chemotherapy.


METHODS
Antineoplastons, which consist of antineoplaston A10 (A10I) and AS2-1 injections, were given in escalating doses by intravenous injections. The median duration of antineoplaston administration was 5 months, and the average dosage of A10I was 9.22 g/kg/d and of AS2-1 was 0.31 g/kg/d. Responses were assessed by gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography.


RESULTS
The overall survival at 2 and 5 years was 39% and 22%, respectively, and maximum survival was more than 17 years for a patient with anaplastic astrocytoma and more than 5 years for a patient with glioblastoma. Progression-free survival at 6 months was 39%. Complete response was achieved in 11%, partial response in 11%, stable disease in 39%, and progressive disease in 39% of patients. Antineoplastons were tolerated very well with 1 case of grade 4 toxicity (reversible anemia).


CONCLUSIONS
Antineoplastons contributed to more than a 5-year survival in recurrent diffuse intrinsic glioblastomas and anaplastic astrocytomas of the brainstem in a small group of patients.
Burzynski
Stanislaw R
SR
Department of Internal Medicine, Burzynski Clinic, Houston, Texas 77055, USA. srb@burzynskiclinic.com
Janicki
Tomasz J
TJ
Weaver
Robert A
RA
Burzynski
Barbara
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044482:Benzeneacetamides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D020295:Brain Stem Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005973:Glutamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010648:Phenylacetates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010881:Piperidones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D044482:Benzeneacetamides; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010648:Phenylacetates; D010881:Piperidones; D005973:Glutamine; C092038:antineoplaston AS 2-1; C052091:antineoplaston A10