BCNU-5-FLUOROURACIL COMBINATION THERAPY FOR RECURRENT MALIGNANT BRAIN-TUMORS

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 62  (12) , 2071-2076
Abstract
Patients (29) with recurrent malignant brain tumors were evaluated. BCNU [1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea] (180 mg/m2) was administered i.v. on day 1 and 5-fluorouracil (1 g/m2 per day) was given by continuous infusion on days 15-17. Courses were repeated every 6 wk until tumor progression occurred. Before each course, a neurologic examination and radionuclide and computerized tomographic scans were performed. Response and progression were defined as improvement or deterioration, respectively, in at least 2 of the 3 tests. Of 29 patients, 9 (31%) responded to therapy, 5 of 29 (17%) showed progression, and 15 of 29 (52%) had disease stability. The estimated median time to progression was 27 wk for all patients, 34 wk for the response group and 25 wk for the stable group. Of all 29 patients, 24 (83%) had tumor progression arrested; 40% with response and 6% with stable disease were continuing therapy after 1 yr. The stable disease group was larger and the duration of stability was longer than that seen in previous studies. Evaluated by time to progression, a BCNU-5-fluorouracil combination is superior to either BCNU alone or a BCNU-procarbazine combination.