Treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme with carmustine, cisplatin and etoposide followed by radiotherapy. A phase II study

Eicosapentaenoic acid enhanced apoptotic and oxidant effects of cisplatin via activation of TRPM2 channel in brain tumor cells

Cisplatin (CiSP) induced-overload Ca²⁺ entry results in the increase of mitochondrial oxidative stress and apoptosis in the cancer cell. TRPM2 cation channel is gated by the cytosolic ADP-ribose (ADPR) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The high content of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in the brain is a main target of ROS. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) induces oxidant action via the enhance of PUFA content in the glioblastoma (DBTRG) cells. We hypothesized that a combination of CiSP and EPA may offer a potential therapy in the DBTRG cell by exerting the antitumor, oxidant, and apoptotic actions and stimulating Ca²⁺ influx and TRPM2 activity. In the DBTRG cells, we induced four groups as control, EPA (30 μM for 24 h), CiSP (25 μM for 24 h), and CiSP + EPA. The CiSP-induced intracellular Ca²⁺ responses to the TRPM2 activation were increased in the DBTRG cells from coming H₂O₂ and ADPR. The responses were decreased in the cells by the inhibitions of TRPM2 (ACA and 2/APB) and PARP/1 (DPQ and PJ34). The incubation of EPA further increased the intracellular Ca²⁺ responses, mitochondria function, and the generation of ROS in the DBTRGs. After the treatment of EPA, lipid peroxidation, apoptosis, cell death, caspase -3, -8, and -9 levels were further increased in the cells, although the levels of glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, cell numbers, and viability were further decreased in the cells. In summary, anticancer, apoptotic, and oxidant actions of CiSP were further increased via the activation of TRPM2 channel in the DBTRGs. Hence, TRPM2 stimulation via EPA could be used as an effective agent in the treatment of glioblastoma tumors with CiSP.

Preradiation Chemotherapy with VM-26 and CCNU in Patients with Glioblastoma Multiforme

Aims and Background

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of combined chemoradiation in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme. The main end points were time to progression and overall survival.

Methods

Thirty-one patients with glioblastoma multiforme underwent surgery whenever possible and then received intravenous VM26 (120 mg/m2) and oral CCNU (120 mg/m2) for three cycles followed by radiotherapy (60 Gy).

Results

Surgery consisted of a complete resection in 39% of patients, partial resection in 35% and a biopsy in 26%. Sixteen patients had clinical or radiological evidence of progression during or after chemotherapy. Hematologic toxicity was mild. Forty-five percent of patients received the scheduled dose of radiation. The outcome was disappointing, with a median time to progression of 18 weeks and median survival of 37.17 weeks.

Conclusions

The survival of patients with glioblastoma multiforme remains disappointing. Multimodal therapy does not seem to modify the evolution of the tumor. Stratification according to prognostic factors might detect a potential benefit of other therapeutic approaches.

Carmustine induces platelet apoptosis

Carmustine is one of the alkylating chemotherapeutic agents, which are used to treat various types of cancers, such as brain tumors, Hodgkins and non-Hodgkins lymphoma and multiple myeloma. However, carmustine has the side effect of thrombocytopenia, and the mechanism is not completely understood. In this study, we show that carmustine dose-dependently induced depolarization of mitochondrial inner transmembrane potential (ΔΨm), up-regulation of Bax, down-regulation of Bcl-2 and caspase-3 activation. Carmustine did not induce surface expression of P-selectin or PAC-1 binding, whereas, obviously reduced collagen and thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. Dicumarol, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase-specific inhibitor, reduced carmustine-induced ΔΨm depolarization in platelets. The numbers of circulating platelets were reduced, and the tail bleeding time was significantly increased in mice that were injected with carmustine. Taken together, these data indicate that carmustine induced platelet apoptosis, suggesting the possible pathogenesis of thrombocytopenia in patients treated with carmustine.

Old but new methods in radiation oncology: hyperbaric oxygen therapy

The presence of hypoxic tumor cells is widely regarded as one of the main reasons behind the failure to control malignant tumors with radiotherapy treatments. Since hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) improves the oxygen supply to the hypoxic tumor cells, HBO therapy has previously been used in combination with simultaneous radiotherapy to treat malignant tumors. In some clinical trials, significant improvements in local control and survival have been seen in cancers of the head and neck and the uterine cervix. However, the delivery of simultaneous HBO therapy and radiotherapy is both complex and time-consuming, with some trials reporting increased side effects. As a result, the regimen of HBO therapy in combination with simultaneous radiotherapy has yet to be used as a standard treatment for malignant tumors. In recent years, however, radiotherapy immediately after HBO therapy has been emerging as an attractive approach for overcoming hypoxia in cancer treatment. Several studies have reported that radiotherapy immediately after HBO therapy was safe and seemed to be effective in patients with high-grade gliomas. Also, this approach may protect normal tissues from radiation injury. To accurately estimate whether the delivery of radiotherapy immediately after HBO therapy can be beneficial in patients with high-grade gliomas and other cancers, further prospective studies are warranted.

Chemotherapy for malignant gliomas based on histoculture drug response assay : a pilot study

OBJECTIVE

The Histoculture Drug Response Assay (HDRA), which measures chemosensitivity using minced tumor tissue on drug-soaked gelfoam, has been expected to overcome the limitations of in vitro chemosensitivity test in part. We analyzed interim results of HDRA in malignant gliomas to see if the test can deserve further clinical trials.

METHODS

Thirty-three patients with malignant gliomas were operated and their tumor samples were examined for the chemosensitivity to 10 chosen drugs by HDRA. The most sensitive chemotherapy regimen among those pre-established was chosen based on the number of sensitive drugs or total inhibition rate (IR) of the regimen. The response was evaluated by 3 month magnetic resonance image.

RESULTS

Among 13 patients who underwent total resection of the tumor, 12 showed no evidence of disease and one patient revealed progression. The response rate in 20 patients with residual tumors was 55% (3 complete and 8 partial responses). HDRA sensitivity at the cut-off value of more than one sensitive drug in the applied regimen showed a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 60% and predictability of 70%. Another cut-off value of >80% of total IR revealed a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 69%, and predictability of 80%. For 12 newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients, median progression-free survival of the HDRA sensitive group was 21 months, while that of the non-sensitive group was 6 months (p=0.07).

CONCLUSION

HDRA for malignant glioma was inferred as a feasible method to predict the chemotherapy response. We are encouraged to launch phase 2 clinical trial with chemosensitivity on HDRA.

In silico studies on marine actinomycetes as potential inhibitors for Glioblastoma multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is considered to be the most common and often deadly disorder which affects the brain. It is caused by the over expression of proteins such as ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EphA2), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and EGFRvIII. These 3 proteins are considered to be the potential therapeutic targets for GBM. Among these, EphA2 is reported to be over-expressed in ˜90% of GBM. Herein we selected 35 compounds from marine actinomycetes, 5 in vitro and in vivo studied drug candidates and 4 commercially available drugs for GBM which were identified from literature and analysed by using comparative docking studies. Based on the glide scores and other in silico parameters available in Schrödinger, two selected marine actinomycetes compounds which include Tetracenomycin D and Chartreusin exhibited better binding energy among all the compounds studied in comparative docking. In this study we have demonstrated the inhibition of the 3 selected targets by the two bioactive compounds from marine actinomycetes through in-silico docking studies. Furthermore molecular dynamics simulation were also been performed to check the stability and the amino acids interacted with the 3 molecular targets (EphA2 receptor, EGFR, EGFRvIII) for GBM. Our results suggest that Tetracinomycin D and Chartreusin are the novel and potential inhibitor for the treatment of GBM.

Phase II trial of radiotherapy after hyperbaric oxygenation with multiagent chemotherapy (procarbazine, nimustine, and vincristine) for high-grade gliomas: long-term results

PURPOSE

To analyze the long-term results of a Phase II trial of radiotherapy given immediately after hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) with multiagent chemotherapy in adults with high-grade gliomas.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Patients with histologically confirmed high-grade gliomas were administered radiotherapy in daily 2 Gy fractions for 5 consecutive days per week up to a total dose of 60 Gy. Each fraction was administered immediately after HBO, with the time interval from completion of decompression to start of irradiation being less than 15 minutes. Chemotherapy consisting of procarbazine, nimustine, and vincristine and was administered during and after radiotherapy.

RESULTS

A total of 57 patients (39 patients with glioblastoma and 18 patients with Grade 3 gliomas) were enrolled from 2000 to 2006, and the median follow-up of 12 surviving patients was 62.0 months (range, 43.2-119.1 months). All 57 patients were able to complete a total radiotherapy dose of 60 Gy immediately after HBO with one course of concurrent chemotherapy. The median overall survival times in all 57 patients, 39 patients with glioblastoma and 18 patients with Grade 3 gliomas, were 20.2 months, 17.2 months, and 113.4 months, respectively. On multivariate analysis, histologic grade alone was a significant prognostic factor for overall survival (p < 0.001). During treatments, no patients had neutropenic fever or intracranial hemorrhage, and no serious nonhematologic or late toxicities were seen in any of the 57 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Radiotherapy delivered immediately after HBO with multiagent chemotherapy was safe, with virtually no late toxicities, and seemed to be effective in patients with high-grade gliomas.

Clinical trial of CPT-11 and VM-26/VP-16 for patients with recurrent malignant brain tumors

CPT-11 is a potent inhibitor of topoisomerase I and has shown antitumor activity in brain xenografts and in clinical trials in recurrent/progressive malignant glioma. VM-26 and VP-16 are topoisomerase II inhibitors and have also shown activity in phase II trials. We performed a phase II trial of intravenous CPT-11 (125 mg/m2) followed 24 h later by VM-26 (125 mg/m2). VP-16 (125 mg/m2) was later substituted for VM-26 due to drug shortage. For patients on anticonvulsants, the starting dose for all drugs was 150 mg/m2. Drugs were given weekly for 3 weeks followed by 1-week rest. Twenty-five patients were entered into the study. Three patients (12%) had improvement in CAT/MRI brain scans (95% confidence interval 3-31%). Fatigue and myelosuppression, mainly leukopenia, were the main toxicities. This combination of the topoisomerase I inhibitor CPT-11 followed by the topoisomerase II inhibitor, VM-26 or VP-16, has shown modest antitumor activity comparable to that reported for each drug singly. Myelosuppression is the main toxicity when topoisomerase I and II inhibitors are combined together.

Phase II trial of radiotherapy after hyperbaric oxygenation with chemotherapy for high-grade gliomas

We conducted a phase II trial to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of radiotherapy immediately after hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) with chemotherapy in adults with high-grade gliomas. Patients with histologically confirmed high-grade gliomas were administered radiotherapy in daily 2 Gy fractions for 5 consecutive days per week up to a total dose of 60 Gy. Each fraction was administered immediately after HBO with the period of time from completion of decompression to irradiation being less than 15 min. Chemotherapy consisted of procarbazine, nimustine (ACNU) and vincristine and was administered during and after radiotherapy. A total of 41 patients (31 patients with glioblastoma and 10 patients with grade 3 gliomas) were enrolled. All 41 patients were able to complete a total radiotherapy dose of 60 Gy immediately after HBO with one course of concurrent chemotherapy. Of 30 assessable patients, 17 (57%) had an objective response including four CR and 13 PR. The median time to progression and the median survival time in glioblastoma patients were 12.3 months and 17.3 months, respectively. On univariate analysis, histologic grade (P=0.0001) and Karnofsky performance status (P=0.036) had a significant impact on survival, and on multivariate analysis, histologic grade alone was a significant prognostic factor for survival (P=0.001). Although grade 4 leukopenia and grade 4 thrombocytopenia occurred in 10 and 7% of all patients, respectively, these were transient with no patients developing neutropenic fever or intracranial haemorrhage. No serious nonhaematological or late toxicities were seen. These results indicated that radiotherapy delivered immediately after HBO with chemotherapy was safe with virtually no late toxicity in patients with high-grade gliomas. Further studies are required to strictly evaluate the effectiveness of radiotherapy after HBO for these tumours.

A prospective PET study of patients with glioblastoma multiforme

OBJECTIVE

To study the post-surgical metabolic and structural cerebral changes in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We examined ten patients prospectively with newly diagnosed GBM. All patients were primarily treated with surgery, followed by chemotherapy (carmustine, cisplatine and etoposide) and radiotherapy. Positron emission tomography (PET) was used to measure tumor- and cerebral metabolism. CT or MRI was used to estimate tumor volume by measurements of tumor area.

RESULTS

Tumor metabolism was not increased during chemotherapy (P = 0.71), but increased during radiotherapy (P = 0.01). CT/MRI showed similar results with no increase in tumor area during chemotherapy (P = 0.33) but increase during radiotherapy (P = 0.002). During the entire study, tumor metabolism and area increased evenly (P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study did not show a gain of PET compared with structural imaging in the prospective evaluation of GBM. We found a difference in metabolic increase and tumor growth between the two treatment regimens, although this finding has limited relevance due to the design of the study.

Photodynamic therapy of high grade glioma - long term survival

Haemetaporphyrin derivative (HpD) mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been investigated as an adjuvant treatment for cerebral glioma. This study records the survival of patients at the Royal Melbourne Hospital with residences in the State of Victoria, utilizing the Victorian Cancer Registry database for patients treated with adjuvant PDT following surgical resection of the tumour. For primary (newly diagnosed) tumours, median survival from initial diagnosis was 76.5 months for anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) and 14.3 months for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Seventy-three percent of patients with AA and 25% with GBM survived longer than 36 months. For recurrent tumour, median survival from the time of surgery was 66.6 months for AA and 13.5 months for GBM. Fifty-seven percent of patients with recurrent AA and 41% of patients with recurrent GBM survived longer than 36 months. Older age at the time of diagnosis was associated with poorer prognosis. Laser light doses above the sample median of 230 J/cm2 were associated with better prognosis in the 136 patients studied (primary tumour patients - (HR=0.50[0.27,0.95],p=0.033); recurrent tumour patients (HR=0.75[0.42,1.31],p=0.312). There was no mortality directly associated with the therapy, three patients had increased cerebral oedema thought to be related to photodynamic therapy that was controlled with conventional therapies.

Neoadjuvant phase II multicentre study of new agents in patients with malignant glioma after minimal surgery. Report of a cohort of 187 patients treated with temozolomide

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of new agents in patients with malignant glioma in a neoadjuvant setting not confounded by surgery. The first study of neoadjuvant temozolomide aimed to provide a benchmark for future evaluation of new treatments.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a multicentre phase II study of chemotherapy in patients with histologically verified glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) who had undergone biopsy alone. Patients were planned to receive two cycles of temozolomide at 200 mg/m(2) orally daily for 5 days at a 28-day interval prior to radiotherapy. Response was assessed by two central observers on pre- and post-chemotherapy enhanced scans using bi-dimensional criteria and as progression-free survival (PFS) at the time of second assessment prior to radiotherapy. Withdrawal from the study due to worsening clinical condition was, in the absence of second imaging, assessed as progressive disease. Survival and quality of life (QOL) were secondary endpoints.

RESULTS

Between August 1999 and June 2002, 188 patients from 15 UK and two Italian centres were entered into the study and 187 were analysed. Overall, 162 patients were assessable for response; seven had partial and 25 had minimal response. The objective response rate was 20% [95% confidence interval (CI) 14-26%] and PFS prior to commencing radiotherapy was 64% (95% CI 57-72%). The median survival was 10 months, and 1-year survival 41%. The median survival of responders was 16 months compared to 3 months in patients with progressive disease (P <0.001 on multivariate analysis).

CONCLUSION

The phase II study design of primary chemotherapy in patients with malignant glioma following biopsy alone is feasible and provides as objective a method of assessment of efficacy as is currently available. The baseline data on temozolomide provide a benchmark for assessment of efficacy of other agents and combinations.

Phase II trial of carmustine, cisplatin, and oral etoposide chemotherapy before radiotherapy for grade 3 astrocytoma (anaplastic astrocytoma): results of North Central Cancer Treatment Group trial 98-72-51

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy of preradiotherapy (RT) chemotherapy with carmustine, cisplatin, and oral etoposide combined with RT in the treatment of newly diagnosed anaplastic astrocytoma.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Therapy consisted of carmustine (40 mg/m(2)/d) on Days 1-3, oral etoposide (50 mg/d) on Days 1-21 and 29-49, and cisplatin (20 mg/m(2)/d i.v.) on Days 1-3 and 29-31. The regimen was repeated every 8 weeks for three cycles, with conventionally fractionated RT (5000 cGy with a 1000-cGy boost) delivered concurrently with the third cycle.

RESULTS

A total of 29 patients were enrolled between December 1999 and March 2001. For varying reasons (e.g., progression, refusal, death, or toxicity), only 48% completed the chemotherapy regimen and 76% completed RT. Grade 3-4 toxicities were observed in 14 patients (48%). The primary study endpoint was the 23-month (700-day) survival, the median survival of patients with anaplastic astrocytoma in a previous North Central Cancer Treatment Group trial. To be considered an active treatment, a maximum of 9 patient deaths (of the first 25) were allowed before 700 days. However, 14 patients had died by 700 days after therapy.

CONCLUSION

Our results have demonstrated that pre-RT chemotherapy with this regimen is insufficiently active in patients with anaplastic astrocytoma.

Neoadjuvant cisplatin and etoposide, with or without tamoxifen, prior to radiotherapy in high-grade gliomas: a single-center experience

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CT), prior to radical radiotherapy (RT), in the treatment of high-grade gliomas may offer several advantages over standard adjuvant CT. The addition of tamoxifen, which can circumvent P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated chemo-resistance, also merits attention. We have evaluated the neoadjuvant regimen of cisplatin and etoposide after surgery of grade III-IV gliomas and prior to radical RT, with regard to response rates (RRs), overall survival (OS) and time to progression (TTP). The synergistic activity between etoposide and tamoxifen was also studied. Forty-four patients were included. CT regime: cisplatin 100 mg/m2 on day +1 and etoposide 100 mg/m2 on days +1 to +3 every 3 weeks for 3 cycles. The initial 24 were also treated with high-dose tamoxifen, 275 mg/m2 on days -3 to +3. An immunohistochemical analysis of P-gp, p53, vascular endothelial growth factor, Ki67 and bcl-2 was also performed. Median follow-up was 11.57 months. In the 16 patients with measurable disease after surgery, a RR of 12.5% was seen, with 37.5% of disease stabilizations and 31.25% of progressions. The median OS and TTP were 11.3 and 5.7 months. Excluding the three deaths possibly related to tamoxifen, grade 3-4 was low, mainly emesis. Favorable prognostic factors were age less than 60 years, extent of surgery, absence of measurable disease, and the absence of radiological necrosis and ring enhancement. Only high p53 expression was associated with better OS. We conclude that neoadjuvant cisplatin and etoposide is a feasible regime, although any real advantage over standard adjuvant CT is dubious. Short-course high-dose tamoxifen should not be used alongside primary CT.

Safety and efficacy of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation for patients with malignant astrocytomas

BACKGROUND

Malignant astrocytomas are among the most resistant tumors to curative treatments. Mean survival without treatment is measured in weeks, and even with maximal surgery and radiation, the mean reported survival is < 1 year. The advent of supportive treatments and newer agents has resulted in benefits for many patients with cancer. The authors investigated the safety and effect on survival of a high-dose thiotepa and carboplatin regimen with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with malignant astrocytomas who were enrolled in a prospective trial approved by an institutional review board (IRB).

METHODS

Twenty-one patients were enrolled in an IRB-approved, prospective trial. After baseline testing was completed, patients underwent peripheral stem cell mobilization with cyclophosphamide (4 g/m2) and etoposide (450 mg/m2) followed by granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (10 microg/kg). Peripheral stem cells were harvested when leukocyte counts recovered. Patients received 2 cycles of thiotepa (750 mg/m2) and carboplatin (1600 mg/m2) followed by infusion of the preserved stem cells. The cycles were administered 6-10 weeks apart. Primary outcome measures were patient survival (Kaplan-Meier analysis) and treatment toxicity (using National Cancer Institute common toxicity criteria).

RESULTS

Autologous stem cells were harvested effectively and transfused in all patients. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated a survival time of 34.3 +/- 5.5 months (range, 9-94 months). Despite significant myelosuppression, only three patients experienced Grade 4 complications and eight experienced Grade 3 complications.

CONCLUSIONS

High-dose chemotherapy with thiotepa and carboplatin with concomitant ASCT was used safely to treat patients with malignant astrocytomas and may provide a survival advantage.

Phase III study comparing three cycles of infusional carmustine and cisplatin followed by radiation therapy with radiation therapy and concurrent carmustine in patients with newly diagnosed supratentorial glioblastoma multiforme: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Trial 2394

PURPOSE

This phase III Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-Southwest Oncology Group intergroup study was conducted to determine whether three 72-hour infusions of carmustine (BiCNU) and cisplatin administered monthly before external-beam radiotherapy would improve the survival of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme. The control arm consisted of radiation with standard adjuvant BiCNU.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 223 patients were accrued from 1996 to 1999. Of these, 219 patients were eligible; 109 were randomly assigned to the experimental arm, and 110 were randomly assigned to the control arm. Randomization was stratified by age, performance status, and extent of resection.

RESULTS

The median age of the patients was 55 years; 55% were male, 93% were white, 26% had a biopsy only, and 84% were ambulatory. Treatment arms were well balanced with respect to baseline characteristics. Median follow-up time of the 15 patients still alive at the time of analysis was 3.3 years (range, 2 to 5 years). Median survival times for the standard and experimental arms were 11.2 and 11.0 months (P =.33, two-sided log-rank test), and survival at 1 year was 45% versus 44%, respectively. Fifty-six percent of patients received all three cycles of BiCNU/cisplatin, 12% received two cycles, and 31% received only one cycle. Toxicity was primarily hematologic and was more common in the experimental arm (P <.01).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that 72-hour infusions of BiCNU and cisplatin followed by radiation do not improve median survival, survival at 1 year, or time to progression. Furthermore, this treatment requires more time in the hospital and is associated with more serious toxicities than standard therapy.

DNA topoisomerase IIalpha expression in optic pathway gliomas of childhood

DNA topoisomerase IIalpha (Topo IIalpha) is linked to tumour cell growth and chemoresistance. We examined immunohistochemically Topo IIalpha expression levels in a series of 36 consecutive paediatric optic pathway glioma (OPG) patients. Topo IIalpha labelling index (LI) ranged from 0.0 to 11.6 and was significantly associated with patient age, with higher levels of Topo IIalpha in children < or = 3 years (P=0.031). Topo IIalpha expression did not correlate with patient survival. Topo IIalpha LI was not significantly increased in specimens of repeat surgery. Topo IIalpha LI closely correlated with MIB-1 LI (R=0.781, P<0.001). We conclude that Topo IIalpha expression correlates with tumour cell proliferation in paediatric OPGs. Assessment of cell proliferation, however, does not assist in refining prognostic predictions. Enhanced Topo IIalpha expression in children < or = 3.0 years suggests that Topo IIalpha-interfering anticancer compounds for adjuvant treatment of OPGs may be of particular benefit to young children.

Pharmacotherapy of malignant astrocytomas of children and adults: current strategies and future trends

This article reviews the conceptual progression in the pharmacological therapy of malignant astrocytoma (MA) over the past decade, and its future trends. It is a selective rather than an exhaustive inventory of literature citations. The experience of the Brain Tumour Cooperative Group (BTCG) and earlier phase III trials are summarised to place subsequent phase II and I studies of single and combination agent chemotherapy in perspective. The BTCG experience of the 1970s to 1980s may be summarised to indicate that external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) is therapeutic, although not curative, and not further improved upon by altering fractionation schedules, or the addition of radioenhancers. Whole brain and reduced whole brain EBRT with focal boost were comparable regimens. Nitrosourea-based, adjuvant chemotherapy provided a modest improvement in survival among adult patients, which was comparable with that of other single drugs or multidrug regimes. The multiagent schedules, however, had a correspondingly higher toxicity rate. Intra-arterial administration was associated with significant risk, which conferred no therapeutic advantage. The trend of the past decade has been towards multiagent chemotherapy although its benefit cannot be predicted from the classic prognostic factors. Published experience with investigational trials utilising myeloablative chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell haemopoietic support, drug delivery enhancement methods and radiosensitisers is critically reviewed. None of these approaches have achieved wide-spread acceptance in the treatment of adult patients with MA. Greater attention is placed on recent 'chemoradiotherapy' trials, which attempt to integrate and maximise the cytoreductive potential of both modalities. This approach holds promise as an effective means to delay or overcome the evolution of tumour resistance, which is probably one of the dominant determinants of prognosis. However, the efficacy of this approach remains unproven. New chemotherapeutic agents as well as biological response modifiers, protein kinase inhibitors, angiogenesis inhibitors and gene therapy are also discussed; their role in the therapeutic armamentarium has not been defined.

Intra-arterial cisplatin plus oral etoposide for the treatment of recurrent malignant glioma: a phase II study

Twenty-five adults with recurrent malignant glioma were enrolled into a phase II clinical study. All patients had undergone surgical resection and had failed radiotherapy and first-line treatment with nitrosourea-based chemotherapy; five had failed second-line chemotherapy. Our objective was to test the efficacy of combining intra-arterially (i.a.) infused cisplatin and oral etoposide. Using conventional angiographic technique to access anterior/posterior cerebral circulation, cisplatin 60 mg/m2 was administered by i.a. infusion on day 1 of treatment. Oral etoposide 50 mg/m2/day was given days 1-21, with a 7 day rest interval between courses. Response to treatment was evaluated in 20 patients. Two patients with anaplastic astrocytoma had partial responses (PR) and six patients experienced stable disease (SD) for an overall response rate (PR +/- SD) of 40%. The median time to disease progression (MTP) following treatment for the responder subgroup was 18 weeks. The median survival time from treatment (MST) for the responders (n = 8) and non-responders (n = 12) was 56.5 weeks and 11 weeks, respectively. Combined i.a. cisplatin and oral etoposide was well-tolerated, but produced an objective response in only a minority of patients. Those considered responders (PR + SD) experienced significant survival advantage when compared to the non-responders. Nonetheless, i.a. delivery of chemotherapy is an expensive and technologically burdensome treatment for most patients to access, requiring proximity to a major center with neuro-oncological and neuroradiological clinical services. This is of special concern for patients suffering recurrent disease with progressive neurological symptoms at a time in their course when quality of life must be safeguarded and palliation of symptoms should be the therapeutic goal. Despite the efforts of previous investigators to use this combination of agents to treat recurrent malignant glioma, we cannot recommend the use of i.a. chemotherapy for salvage treatment of this disease.

A peptide derived from the non-receptor-binding region of urokinase plasminogen activator inhibits glioblastoma growth and angiogenesis in vivo in combination with cisplatin

The urokinase plasminogen activator system is involved in angiogenesis and tumor growth of malignant gliomas, which are highly neovascularized and so may be amenable to antiangiogenic therapy. In this paper, we describe the activity of A6, an octamer capped peptide derived from the non-receptor-binding region of urokinase plasminogen activator. A6 inhibited human microvascular endothelial cell migration but had no effect on the proliferation of human microvascular endothelial cells or U87MG glioma cells in vitro. In contrast, A6 or cisplatin (CDDP) alone suppressed subcutaneous tumor growth in vivo by 48% and 53%, respectively, and, more strikingly, the combination of A6 plus CDDP inhibited tumor growth by 92%. Such combination treatment also greatly reduced the volume of intracranial tumor xenografts and increased survival of tumor-bearing animals when compared with CDDP or A6 alone. Tumors from the combination treatment group had significantly reduced neovascularization, suggesting a mechanism involving A6-mediated inhibition of endothelial cell motility, thereby eliciting vascular sensitivity to CDDP-mediated toxicity. These data suggest that the combination of an angiogenesis inhibitor that targets endothelial cells with a cytotoxic agent may be a useful therapeutic approach.

Up-front chemotherapy with fotemustine (F) / cisplatin (CDDP) / etoposide (VP16) regimen in the treatment of 33 non-removable glioblastomas

Despite combinations of surgery, radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy used in the treatment of glioblastomas, mean and median survival rates in most patients remain 12 months or less after diagnosis. RT and nitrosourea after surgery are the standard combination for glioblastomas. They may induce acquired resistance and, consequently, non-operable glioblastomas is a unique biological and clinical situation allowing evaluation of intrinsic chemosensitivity. We assess the fotemustine (F) (100 mg/m2 day 1)/ cisplatin (CDDP) (33 mg/m2 days 1-3)/etoposide (VP16) (75 mg/m2 days 1-3) monthly regimen for efficacy in non-removable glioblastomas at presentation. Between 1995 and 1998, 33 consecutive patients with symptomatic non-removable histologically proven glioblastomas were treated: none of them had previously received chemotherapy, irradiation or surgical debulking. Objective response was evaluated by contrast enhancement with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan after each treatment. Toxicity was moderate and mainly haematological (grade III-IV thrombopenia = 20/171 cycles; leucopenia = 25/171). Neutropenic fever was rare and no intracranial haemorrhages or treatment-related deaths were noted. Nausea and vomiting (grade 1), and asymptomatic hearing loss were common. Peripheral neuropathy occurred in 3 patients. Objective response rates were 9/33 (27%) (stabilisation = 17/33). Mean survival time was 14.4 (11.2 months in the 26 deceased patients) with a median survival of 10 months. Median survival rates at 6 and 12 months were 88% and 42%, respectively. 7/33 patients are still alive with median survival of 34.6 months. 7/33 (4/7 alive) were long-term survivors (range: 19-67 months). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in non-resectable patients is safe allowing delayed RT. Phase II chemotherapy trials should include studies with a subgroup of non-resectable tumours.