Randomized comparisons of radiotherapy and CCNU versus radiotherapy, CCNU plus procarbazine for the treatment of malignant gliomas following surgery. A Southwest Oncology Group Report

Abstract

One hundred and fifteen eligible patients with histologically verified malignant gliomas (astrocytoma grade III-IV) were randomized to receive either radiotherapy 6 000 rads/7 week plus CCNU 130 mg/M2 every 6 weeks (treatment 1) or radiotherapy 6 000 rads/7 weeks plus CCNU 75 mg/M2 day 1 plus procarbazine 100 Mg/m2 days 1-14 every 6 weeks (treatment 2) within 4 weeks following surgical resection. The response rates showed no statistically significant differences between treatment 1 CR/PR - 24/17% and treatment 2 CR/PR - 14/14% (P-value = 0.31). The median survival was also not significantly different: 55 and 50 weeks for treatments 1 and 2, respectively. The most important prognostic parameter identified was age with younger patients showing higher response rates and longer survival. Patients' performance status was also a useful prognostic parameter for response and survival. Neither the extent of surgical resection nor the tumor grade correlated significantly with the outcome. Further studies are needed to identify active chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of brain tumors.