[Treatment of inoperable glioblastomas using a combination of adriamycin, VM 26 and CCNU]

46 non resectable malignant gliomas adult patients were treated with a combination protocol of chemotherapy with administration of adriamycin, VM 26 and CCNU. The tolerance to this treatment was good except for the delayed hematological toxicity related to cumulative doses of CCNU, which limited after 5 courses of chemotherapy the possibility of further treatment with the same combination. As far as the neurological responses are concerned, 66 per 100 patients were good responders, but we found a poor relation (50%) between the degree of clinical response and regression of tumour volume in brain scan. The median survival of this group of patients was 9 months and 11 patients/46 are still alive in good state 14 months after they entered into this trial. According to these data we discuss the introduction of chemotherapy at the early stage of the disease.