Cisplatin does not enhance the effect of radiation therapy in malignant gliomas. EORTC Brain Tumor Group

Abstract

The aim of this randomised trial was to test the effect of cisplatin given during radiation therapy in adults with supratentorial malignant gliomas. Of 285 patients included, 246 were evaluable. The main reasons for exclusions were: inadequate pathology or no pathology review (24 patients), exclusion of the institution (11 patients), and inadequate follow-up (4 patients). For 121 patients randomised to receive cisplatin 50 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, 15 and 22 of radiation therapy, 81 were given the full dose. Radiation therapy alone was given to 125 control patients. All patients were followed until the recurrence of clinical signs (free interval) and until death (survival). Neither of these two parameters was modified by cisplatin. No signs of major toxicity were reported. It is concluded that at the doses used, cisplatin does not enhance the effects of radiation therapy in malignant gliomas.