Feasibility and response to 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidynyl) methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea hydrochloride chemotherapy with pre-treated procarbazine for elderly patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility of 1-(4-amino- 2-methyl-5-pyrimidynyl) methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea hydrochloride (ACNU) of pre-treated procarbazine for elderly patients with newly diagnosed glioblastomas.


METHODS
From January 2004 to March 2005, 7 patients with glioblastoma were enrolled. After maximal surgical resection, patients were treated with two to four cycles of procarbazine (100 mg/m(2) for day 1 to 5), ACNU (80 mg/m(2)/day(1) for day 5), cepharantine (70 mg for day 5 and 12) and vincristine (1.4 mg/m(2) for day 5 and 12).


RESULTS
Significant toxicities of this regimen, including infectious toxicities, are described. Among the 7 patients enrolled, there were 6 patients were died, and one was still alive with disease at 13 months. The 6-month progression-free survival and 1-year overall survival are 29% (95% CI, 16% to 73%) and 29% (95% CI, 16% to 73%), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The chemotherapy regimen is active but too toxic for elderly patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.
Terasaki
Mizuhiko
M
Department of Neurosurgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan. mizuhiko@med.kurume-u.ac.jp
Abe
Toshi
T
Miyagi
Naohisa
N
Ogo
Etsuyo
E
Shigemori
Minoru
M
D000368:Aged; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D015376:Nimustine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011344:Procarbazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052117:Benzodioxoles
D000470:Alkaloids; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D015376:Nimustine; D011344:Procarbazine; D014750:Vincristine; C006947:cepharanthine; D052117:Benzodioxoles