Post-operative sequential chemo-radiotherapy in high-grade cerebral gliomas with fotemustine


OZKAN M., ALTINBAS M., ER O., KAPLAN B., COSKUN H. Ş., KARAHACIOGLU E., ...More

JOURNAL OF CHEMOTHERAPY, vol.16, no.3, pp.298-302, 2004 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 16 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2004
  • Doi Number: 10.1179/joc.2004.16.3.298
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF CHEMOTHERAPY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.298-302
  • Erciyes University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

High-grade gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors in adults. Twenty-seven patients with histopathologically proven anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme were enrolled in this study from November 1998 to August 2002. Radiotherapy was administered after surgery and fotemustine (100 mg/m(2)) was sequentially administered every 3 weeks for 6 cycles. Overall, 111 cycles were administered to the 27 patients (median, 5 cycles; range, 1 to 6 cycles). Myelosuppression was mild to moderate. The median overall survival and progression free survival were 11 +/- 3.1 months (95%CI, 4.9-17.1) and 8 +/- 0.5 months (95%CI 7.1-8.9), respectively. One-year and two-year survivals were calculated at 48% and 7%, respectively. Significant prognostic factors (P<0.05) via univariate analysis were divided into two groups: completion of 6 cycles of chemotherapy versus incompletion of 6 cycles of chemotherapy. This trial demonstrates that postoperative radiotherapy and sequential fotemustine therapy is feasible, well tolerated, and may prolong survival in patients with newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas.