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Complications associated with intra-arterial BCNU administered in combination with vincristine and procarbazine for the treatment of malignant brain tumors

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Summary

We have used intra-arterial (i.a.) 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) either alone or as part of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with malignant brain tumors over a 3 year period (1979–1982). The i.a. BCNU technique was used 111 times to infuse 134 arteries in 37 patients. These patients, 28 cases with glial tumor and 9 cases with brain metastasis, received i.a. BCNU in combination with Vincristine and Procarbazine every 6 weeks. Complications encountered were transient and included: periorbital erythralgia or occipital-nuchal pain in 23 (62%), mild confusion and disorientation in 14 (38%), and ipsilateral conjunctival edema in 10 (27%). Reversible myelosuppression was not found. Our findings suggest that BCNU (100 Mg/M2) may be given by i.a. infusion in combination chemotherapy without persistent severe untoward effects with a cumulative dose of 700 mg/M2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurosurgery and Radiology Departments, University Hospital of Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida, USA

    Alfonso M Bremer, Tai Q Nguyen, Raymond Balsys, H Martin Northup, Pedro Duarte & Robert I Miller

  2. Neurosurgery and Radiology Departments, IMSS Medical Center, Mexico City, Mexico

    Enrique Kleriga & Nicolas Gonzalez

Authors
  1. Alfonso M Bremer
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  2. Enrique Kleriga
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  3. Tai Q Nguyen
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  4. Raymond Balsys
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  5. H Martin Northup
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  6. Nicolas Gonzalez
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  7. Pedro Duarte
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  8. Robert I Miller
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Bremer, A.M., Kleriga, E., Nguyen, T.Q. et al. Complications associated with intra-arterial BCNU administered in combination with vincristine and procarbazine for the treatment of malignant brain tumors. J Neuro-Oncol 2, 129–132 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00177898

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00177898

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