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Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of recurrent glioblastomas (GBM)

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Abstract

We wondered whether second line chemotherapy in recurrent GBM patients might be useful for debulking the tumor mass and improving patient performance status to prepare the way for second surgical intervention. We have treated 18 recurrent glioma patients with high dose methotrexate (HDMTX) plus 5-fluorouracil (5FU). 5 Patients were responders, 6 had stable disease, and 7 disease progression. 6 patients, 3 PRs and 2 SDs, underwent a second operation after two chemotherapy cycles. Disease progression resumed at 11.5±7 weeks in the non reoperated patients, and at 32.6±9.3 weeks in the reoperated group from initiation of neoadjuvant treatment. Survival time in reoperated patients was 82.6 weeks. Although our experience with this policy is still limited, we believe that reoperation in selected recurrent GBM patients can be worthwhile.

Sommario

In questo lavoro sono stati trattati secondo l'associazione Methotrexate ad alte dosi (HDMTX) e 5 Fluoro-uracile 18 pazienti affetti da glioblastoma recidivo. Lo scopo dello studio è stato verificare se in pazienti affetti da glioblastoma un trattamento chemioterapico di seconda linea potesse creare le condizioni per il reintervento. Alla conclusione del secondo ciclo polichemioterapico abbiamo osservato 5 risposte complete, 6 stabilità di malattia e 7 progressioni. Il miglioramento clinico successivo al trattamento chemioterapico ha permesso il reintervento in 5 pazienti. A partire dalla data di esecuzione del primo ciclo chemioterapico la ripresa di malattia è stata osservata rispettivamente alla 11.5 e 32.6 settimana nei pazienti non operati e nei rioperati. La sopravvivenza media globale nei pazienti rioperati è stata di 82.6 settimane dalla diagnosi.

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Boiardi, A., Silvani, A., Croci, D. et al. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of recurrent glioblastomas (GBM). Ital J Neuro Sci 13, 583–588 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02233401

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