[Treatment of malignant brain tumors with slowly releasing anticancer drug-polymer composites]

The purpose of this study is to present the methodology and results of a clinical trial of local chemotherapy of malignant brain tumors based on slowly-releasing anticancer drug-polymer composites. The slowly releasing drugs were prepared by combining and mutually dispersing anticancer agents with glassified monomers containing 10% polymetacrylic methyl acid and then this compound was frozen at -78 degrees C and exposed to 1 X 10(6) rad of gamma rays from cobalt 60. Thus we prepared a compound of polymers and anticancer agents. We used needle-shaped capsules of this compound. These capsules release the drug very slowly over 40 days. We administered locally to the malignant brain tumors with either slowly releasing mitomycin, slowly releasing adriamycin, slowly releasing ACNU or slowly releasing 5 Fu drugs. The following techniques were employed in implantation these capsules. Implantation into the remaining tumor wall at the time of excision. Implantation into the tumor by CT-guided stereotactic method. We implanted these drugs into tumor of 55 cases, thereafter we conducted both radiation and chemotherapy with ACNU in most patients. This method has the following advantages: It is possible to be employed to different types of anticancer agents. Both dosage and releasing time can be adjusted. It is possible to administer these capsules postoperatively by the stereotactic method. The clinical study consists of 55 patients, 20 cases of anaplastic astrocytoma, 23 cases of glioblastoma multiforme, 5 cases of oligodendroglioma, 3 cases of medulloblastoma and 4 cases of others. Survival rate estimated by Kaplan-Meier method was 47% in glioblastoma at 12 months and 91% in anaplastic astrocytoma at 18 months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)