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Combined postoperative treatment of malignant supratentorial gliomas with vincristine sulphate and radiotherapy

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Summary

The results of combined irradiation and intravenous Vincristine therapy applied to 18 malignant glioma patients after operation and reoperation are reported. Histological examination of the first 15 tumours showed that 12 were glioblastomas and 3 malignant astrocytomas. Tumours removed by reoperation were glioblastomas.

Combination therapy consisted of the immediate postoperative administration of 6–12 mg VCR (0.08–0.1 mg/kg) over an 8–14 days period followed by 2 courses of telecobalt irradiation giving a total dose of 5,000 rads. Most patients received a second course of 8–12 mg VCR 6 months after surgery. The total dose of VCR was 15–22 mg. Irreversible toxic effects were not observed.

The results obtained with combination therapy were somewhat better than those achieved with radiotherapy alone. The mean survival time was 9 months. Patients lived after re-operation for at least as long as they had after a first operation. Death did not occur within a period of 6 months following surgery.

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Author notes

  1. D. Áfra

    Present address: Institute for Neurosurgery in Budapest, Hungary

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Neurosurgery in Budapest, Hungary

    L. Zoltán, Gy. Gyenes & S. Eckhardt

  2. National Oncological Institute in Budapest, Hungary

    D. Áfra, L. Zoltán, Gy. Gyenes & S. Eckhardt

Authors
  1. D. Áfra
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  2. L. Zoltán
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  3. Gy. Gyenes
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  4. S. Eckhardt
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Áfra, D., Zoltán, L., Gyenes, G. et al. Combined postoperative treatment of malignant supratentorial gliomas with vincristine sulphate and radiotherapy. Acta neurochir 29, 203–211 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01406171

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