Intra-arterial BCNU therapy in the treatment of metastatic brain tumor from lung carcinoma: a preliminary report

Abstract

Nine patients with intracerebral metastasis from lung carcinoma were treated with intracarotid and intravertebral artery infusion of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU). Four of these patients considered definite responders showed unequivocal clinical improvement and definite decreases in the size of tumors evaluated by neurologic examination, computerized tomographic (CT) scan and radionuclide brain scan (RBS). One patient's clinical condition stabilized with doubtful improvement of diagnostic tests (probable responder). The remaining four patients had further unfavorable progression of the clinical and scan findings and were clearly nonresponders. Complications were transient and included: local pain in the eye, orbit, and occipital-nuchal area during infusion in 7 patients, focal seizure in 3 patients, mild confusion with disorientation in 2 patients, and nausea in 2 patients. Our findings suggest that intra-arterial BCNU therapy may be effective and may be used as an adjuvant to surgery and/or radiotherapy for the treatment of metastatic brain tumor from lung carcinoma.