Chinese Journal of Oncology 2011;33(9):707-709

Safety and efficacy of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy combined with temozolomide in treatment of diffuse brainstem gliomas.

Heng-hu FANG 1 2 ; Qing NIE ; Jing-bo KANG ; Fang-ming LI ; Chang-lan CAI

Affiliations

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Country

China

Language

Chinese

MeSH

Abstract

OBJECTIVETo study the safety and efficacy of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy in combination with temozolomide in treatment of patients with diffuse brainstem glioma.

METHODSTwelve patients with MRI-confirmed diffuse brainstem glioma received 54 Gy three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for 6 weeks with 1.8 Gy per fraction, 5 times per week. All of the patients were given daily oral temozolomide 75 mg/m(2) during radiotherapy. Four weeks after radiotherapy, all of the patients received 6 cycles of temozolomide, each cycle lasted 5 days with 28 days interval between each two cycles. 150 mg/m(2) of temozolomide was given for the first cycle for five days, followed by 200 mg/m(2) of the drug for the rest of the cycles if no significant drug-related toxicities were observed. Magnetic resonance imaging and laboratory tests were performed to evaluate the efficacy and adverse reactions.

RESULTSIn the 12 patients, CR was 1 case (8.3%), PR 6 cases (50.0%), SD 2 cases (16.7%), and PD 3 cases (25.0%). The overall clinical benefit rate was 75.0%. Progression-free survival rate was 75.0% (9/12) at 6 months and 50.0% (6/12) at 1 year. The one-year overall survival rate was 75.0%. There were no severe temozolomide-related toxicities.

CONCLUSIONSConcurrent temozolomide with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy and followed by 6 cycles of temozolomide chemotherapy for diffuse brainstem gliomas have a better clinical efficacy, good tolerance and with no severe toxicities.