Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Randomized comparisons of radiotherapy and CCNU versus radiotherapy, CCNU plus procarbazine for the treatment of malignant gliomas following surgery

A Southwest Oncology Group Report

  • Published:
Journal of Neuro-Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

One hundred and fifteen eligible patients with histologically verified malignant gliomas (astrocytoma grade III–IV) were randomized to receive either radiotherapy 6 000 rads/7 week plus CCNU 130 mg/ M2 every 6 weeks (treatment 1) or radiotherapy 6000 rads/7 weeks plus CCNU 75 mg/M2 day 1 plus procarbazine 100 Mg/m2 days 1–14 every 6 weeks (treatment 2) within 4 weeks following surgical resection. The response rates showed no statistically significant differences between treatment 1 CR/ PR - 24/ 17% and treatment 2 CR/ PR - 14/14% (P-value = 0.31). The median survival was also not significantly different: 55 and 50 weeks for treatments 1 and 2, respectively. The most important prognostic parameter identified was age with younger patients showing higher response rates and longer survival. Patients' performance status was also a useful prognostic parameter for response and survival. Neither the extent of surgical resection nor the tumor grade correlated significantly with the outcome. Further studies are needed to identify active chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of brain tumors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cancer statistics, 1983: CA - A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 33:9–25, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Walker MD: Brain and peripheral nervous system tumors. In: Holland JF, Frei E III (eds) Cancer medicine. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, 1973, pp 1385–1407.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Taveras J M: Radiotherapy of brain tumors. Clin Neurosurg 7:200–213, 1960.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Walker MD, Alexander E Jr, Hunt WE et al: Evaluation of BCNU and/or radiotherapy in the treatment of anaplastic gliomas: a cooperative clinical trial. J Neurosurg 49:333–343, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Walker MD, Green SB, Byar DP et al: Randomized comparisons of radiotherapy and nitrosoureas for the treatment of malignant glioma after surgery. N Engl J Med 303:1323–1329, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Edwards MS, Levin VA, Wilson CB: Brain tumor chemotherapy: an evaluation of agents in current use for phase II and III trials. Cancer Treat Rep 64:1179–1205, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kumar ARV, Ranaudin J, Wilson CB et al: Procarbazine hydrochloride in the treatment of brain tumors: phase 2 study. J Neurosurg 40:365–371, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Eagan RT, Dinapoli RP, Hermann RC et al: Combination carmustive (BCNU) and dianhydroglactitol in the treatment of primary brain tumors recurring after irradiation. Cancer Treat Rep 66:1647–1649, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Salazar OM, VanHoutte PJ, Bennett JM et al: High-dose radiation therapy with low-dose (pulsed) BCNU in malignant gliomas. An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Report. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 8:915–919, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kristiansen K, Hagen S, Kollevold T et al: Combined modality therapy of operated astrocytomas grade III and IV. Confirmation of the value of postoperative irradiation and lack of potentiation of bleomycin on survival time. Cancer 47:649–652, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Cooper JS, Borok TL, Ransohoff J, Carella RJ: Malignant glioma: results of combined modality therapy. JAMA 248:62–65,1982.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Kaplan EL, Meier P: Nonparametric estimation from incomplete observations. J Am Stat Assoc 53:457–481, 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Gehan EA: A generalized Wilcoxin test for comparing arbitrarily singly-censored samples. Biometricka 52:203–223, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Reagan TJ, Bisel HF, Childs DS et al: Controlled study of CCNU and radiation therapy in malignant astrocytoma. J Neurosurg 44:186–190, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Weir B, Urtasun R, Blain G et al: Radiotherapy and CCNU in the treatment of high grade supratentorial astrocytomas. J Neurosurg 45:129–134, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Cianfriglia F, Pompili A, Riccio A et al: CCNU-chemotherapy of hemispheric supratentorial glioblastoma multiforme. Cancer 45:1289–1299, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Utah, USA

    Harmon J. Eyre & James R. Eltringham

  2. Tulane University, USA

    Joseph M. Quagliana

  3. Southwest Oncology Group Biostatistical Center, USA

    Jess Frank

  4. Henry Ford Hospital, USA

    Robert M. O'Bryan

  5. Ontario Cancer Foundation Windsor Clinic, USA

    Bruce McDonalds

  6. Seattle Tumor Institute of Swedish Hospital Medical Center, USA

    Saul E. Rivkin

Authors
  1. Harmon J. Eyre
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joseph M. Quagliana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. James R. Eltringham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jess Frank
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Robert M. O'Bryan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Bruce McDonalds
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Saul E. Rivkin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Address for reprints: Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG-7404), Operations Office, 4450 Medical Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Eyre, H.J., Quagliana, J.M., Eltringham, J.R. et al. Randomized comparisons of radiotherapy and CCNU versus radiotherapy, CCNU plus procarbazine for the treatment of malignant gliomas following surgery. J Neuro-Oncol 1, 171–177 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00165600

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00165600

Keywords

Search

Navigation