Combination chemotherapy with VM 26 and CCNU in primary malignant brain tumors

Twenty-seven patients with inoperable or recurrent primary malignant brain tumors after previous resection and/or radiotherapy, were treated with corticosteroids and a combination chemotherapy consisting of VM 26 and CCNU. There were 15 (55%) patients that responded, three with a complete and 12 with a partial response with a mean duration of response of 13.4 months. Toxicity was mainly hematological and of acceptable degree. Combination chemotherapy with VM 26 and CCNU is well tolerated and can be administered on an out-patient basis. In our experience it is better than single agent chemotherapy.