[Effect of MCNU on brain tumors. Part II: Clinical experience with MCNU on malignant brain tumors]

Ten patients with malignant brain tumor (8 cases with glioblastoma, 2 cases with medulloblastoma) were treated with a new water-soluble nitrosourea, MCNU. Objective tumor regression of tumor (CR & PR) on computerized tomography was observed in four patients (2 complete and 2 partial) after MCNU, chemotherapy showing a response rate of 40%. The major side effects of MCNU were mild or moderate myelosuppression, and some cases also showed gastrointestinal toxicities and impairment of hepatic function. However, all these side effects were mild and transient and soon recovered to normal levels. One patient with glioblastoma multiforme recurrence was treated with a high-dose chemotherapy of MCNU (400 mg) associated with autologous bone marrow transplantation. Myelosuppression began to appear from 15th day of MCNU administration and normalized within 30 days afterwards. These results suggest that MCNU therapy is effective for patients with malignant brain tumors.