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Phone: (303) 806-7420

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Abstract on Chemotherapy Treatment for Low-Grade Gliomas

This abstract is from a paper presented to the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Use of modified PCV chemotherapy as principal therapy for adults with incompletely resected or recurrent low-grade glioma: A retrospective review

EB Arenson, J Bank, M Pierick, C Greenwald, J McVicker, JP Elliott, JD Day, TM Fullagar; The Colorado Neurological Institute, Englewood, Colorado

Background: In order to assess outcomes of patients treated with chemotherapy versus a more standard approach of radiotherapy (RT), we reviewed 48 patients with newly diagnosed, partially resected or recurrent low-grade glioma (LGG) treated between 1996 and the present.

Methods: Patients were divisible into three groups: those treated with chemotherapy + RT before (Group A, 28 patients) or after (Group B, 13 patients) radiographic progression, and those with recurrences after treatment with RT (Group C, 7 patients). Diagnoses included astrocytoma (23%), oligodendroglioma (48%) and mixed glioma (29%). 39 patients were treated with chemotherapy alone and 9 received post-chemotherapy RT. Chemotherapy consisted of PCV in one case; all other patients received modified PCV (MPCV), which variably included addition of carboplatin (200-360 mg/m2) and etoposide (150 mg/m2) and substitution of temozolomide (150 mg/m2/day x 5 doses) for procarbazine. The intent was to treat monthly for one year.

Results: Patients received a mean of 10 courses of MPCV; 481 cycles were given. There were no deaths or admissions during chemotherapy. Grade III/IV toxicities occurred in 108 cycles (25 patients), 107 hematologic and 1 GI. Late effects included 1 case of MDS and 1 AML. There were no cases of disease progression during chemotherapy. Two patients stopped MPCV early, one because of worsening seizures (2 cycles) and one by personal preference (1 cycle); both died of disease. With a median follow-up of 46 months (range 4-120) from initiation of chemotherapy, overall survival and progression-free survival were 89% and 79% for Group A, 91% and 83% for Group B, and 100% and 86% for Group C. Of 6 patients (12.5%) who recurred after completing chemotherapy, 2 have died; both had received post-chemotherapy RT and had clinical features of GBM. Four patients are either lost to follow-up (2) or alive with stable disease (2) following additional treatment.

Conclusions:

  1. MPCV is a tolerable regimen which can be given more aggressively than standard PCV.
  2. There is minimal risk of early disease progression with MPCV.
  3. Results support a prospective trial comparing MPCV to RT in patients with progressive unresectable LGG, and use of MPCV as salvage therapy for patients who fail RT.
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Colorado Neurological Institute Center for Brain & Spinal Tumors
701 East Hampden Ave., Suite 330, Englewood, CO 80113
Phone: (303) 806-7420, Fax: (303) 788-5469
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The medical information presented on this website is meant for general educational purposes only.
Persons should consult their physician regarding specific medical concerns or treatment. Copyright 2005, Colorado Neurological Institute.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Brent Lovejoy
 


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