Phase II study of prolonged oral therapy with etoposide (VP16) for patients with recurrent malignant glioma

摘要: Because the percentage of dividing cells in malignant glioma is small, cell cycle specific drugs such as VP16 are most effective if given continuously over prolonged periods. In this study, we chose a dose 50 mg/day to minimize therapy interruptions for myelosuppresion. was until neutrophil count dropped < 1.0 × 109/L or platelets fell 75 and resumed when counts rose normal levels. We treated 46 patients with supratentorial (15 anaplastic astrocytoma, 21 glioblastoma multiforme, 9 oligodendroglioma, l undifferentiated primary brain tumor) at time tumor progression. All had KPS ≥ 70 study entry. prior RT,13 adjuvant nitrosourea. Twenty-four nitrosourea chemotherapy progression, 7 no chemotherapy. 20 first progression 26 second later CT MR scans clinical evaluation every 8 weeks. Median (TTP) 8.8 weeks all evaluable patients, 8.6 those 8.4 9.1 7.5 multiforme 17.1 oligodendroglioma. There were responses 11 stable disease least (R + SD = 42%). Prolonged low-dose oral VP15 well tolerated, minimal myelosuppression. modestly treatment recurrent more astrocytoma oligodendroglioma than multiforme.