title: [Safety and efficacy of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy combined with temozolomide in treatment of diffuse brainstem gliomas].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the safety and efficacy of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy in combination with temozolomide in treatment of patients with diffuse brainstem glioma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients with MRI-confirmed diffuse brainstem glioma received 54 Gy three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for 6 weeks with 1.8 Gy per fraction, 5 times per week. All of the patients were given daily oral temozolomide 75 mg/m(2) during radiotherapy. Four weeks after radiotherapy, all of the patients received 6 cycles of temozolomide, each cycle lasted 5 days with 28 days interval between each two cycles. 150 mg/m(2) of temozolomide was given for the first cycle for five days, followed by 200 mg/m(2) of the drug for the rest of the cycles if no significant drug-related toxicities were observed. Magnetic resonance imaging and laboratory tests were performed to evaluate the efficacy and adverse reactions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 12 patients, CR was 1 case (8.3%), PR 6 cases (50.0%), SD 2 cases (16.7%), and PD 3 cases (25.0%). The overall clinical benefit rate was 75.0%. Progression-free survival rate was 75.0% (9/12) at 6 months and 50.0% (6/12) at 1 year. The one-year overall survival rate was 75.0%. There were no severe temozolomide-related toxicities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Concurrent temozolomide with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy and followed by 6 cycles of temozolomide chemotherapy for diffuse brainstem gliomas have a better clinical efficacy, good tolerance and with no severe toxicities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Navy General Hospital, Beijing, China. fanghenghu@163.com
authors.forename: Heng-hu
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Jing-bo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Fang-ming
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chang-lan
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D020295:Brain Stem Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D002648:Child; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D000077204:Temozolomide; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D003606:Dacarbazine; D000077204:Temozolomide