[Combined postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy for malignant gliomas]

A retrospective analysis was performed on 70 patients with malignant supratentrial astrocytic gliomas (astrocytoma Grade III or glioblastoma multiforme) treated with radiotherapy combined with vincristine (VCR), ACNU and PS-K. From January 1979 through December 1983, 27 patients were treated with treatment protocol A (group A). Protocol A was as follows: (1) total dose of 50 to 65 Gy radiation was given after surgery; (2) radiation plus combination VCR (0.02 mg/kg IV on 1st and 29th day of radiation) and ACNU (2 mg/kg IV 24 hrs after VCR) (3) after synchronized radiotherapy, ACNU (2 mg/kg IV every 6 or 8 weeks) and PS-K (3 or 6 g PO every day). Other 43 patients were treated with treatment protocol B (group B) from January 1984 through June 1988. Protocol B was as follows: (1) radiation dose was same as protocol A; (2) radiation plus combination VCR (0.02 mg/kg IV one day before radiotherapy) and ACNU (2 mg/kg IV on 1st and 1 mg/kg IV on 7, 21, 35th day, 1 hour before radiotherapy) (3) maintenance chemotherapy was same as protocol A. The difference between protocol A and protocol B was based on treatment schedule of ACNU. The characteristics of all patients were studied and identified, mainly age, histologic type, initial performance status, extent of tumor resection, maintenance chemotherapy. The reduction rate of tumor volume was 46.7% in the A group and 49.9% in the B group (not significant). The survival rates at 1, 2 and 3 years after surgery were 74.1%, 55.6% and 51.9% respectively for A group, and 80.5%, 42.4%, and 42.4%, respectively for B group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)