[Chemoradiation for malignant brain tumors]

The author reviewed treatment results of chemoradiation therapy for malignant brain tumors. For astrocytic tumors, radiation therapy combined with radiosensitizing chemotherapeutic agents, mainly nitrosourea compounds (BCNU or ACNU), has been a standard treatment modality for a long time. The therapy is more effective for anaplastic astrocytoma than glioblastoma. The chemoradiation therapy is now applied for medulloblastoma; it prolonged 5-year survival up to 70%. Metastatic brain tumors are frequently treated by radiation therapy alone. When combined with cisplatin, radiation therapy shows a more excellent antitumor effect.