Temozolomide as first-line agent in treating high-grade gliomas: phase II study

Temozolomide a recent, oral, second generation alkylating agent is a chemotherapeutic with demonstrated efficacy for the treatment of high-grade gliomas; its efficacy has been demonstrated in both pre-clinical and phase I and II studies. The goal of this study is to determine the activity and safety of temozolomide in improving overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and health-related quality of life (HQL) in patient with malignant gliomas. Forty-two patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma, anaplastic astrocytoma and anaplastic oligodendroglioma were studied. The mean follow-up period was 12 months. The overall response rate (only responsive patient) for all histological groups was 40%, 10 patients (24%) showed a stabilization of disease. The median PFS and OS was respectively 8.35 and 14.1 months: time to progression was 34 week ranging from 21 to 47. In all patients, treatment with temozolomide was associated with improvement of performance status including the patient showing disease progression: Karnofski score improved in all patients by a minimum of 10, with a median of 20 at 6 months. No patient stopped the treatment due to side-effects, no major adverse events were recorded.

Temozolomide appears to be an ideal, first-line, single-agent, with a safe profile and demonstrated HQL benefits in patients with high-grade gliomas.