Summary
From 1981 through 1985 the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) conducted a study evaluating the natural history and the effectiveness of standard therapy in those patients with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis from non-hematologic malignancies. Twenty-six patients were evaluated for the effectiveness of treatment; those who responded to therapy by one month exhibited a median additional survival of 5.7 months and those who were not responders at one month exhibited a median additional survival of 1.8 months. We were unable to identify pre-treatment clinical characteristics which would predict for a favorable response to therapy. Aggressive treatment in some patients may be indicated, as those patients who respond to treatment may have a survival benefit. The overall prognosis in this patient group remains exceedingly poor.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Olson ME, Chernick NL, Posner JB: Infiltration of the leptomeninges by systemic cancer — A clinical and pathologic study. Arch Neurol 30:122–137, 1974
Yap HY, Yap BS, Tashima CK, DiStefano A, Blumenschein GR: Meningeal carcinomatosis in breast cancer. Cancer 42(1):283–286, 1978
Little JR, Dale AJD, Okazaki H: Meningeal carcinomatosis — clinical manifestations. Arch Neurol 30:138–143, 1974
Gonzalez-Vitale JC, Garcia-Bunuel R: Meningeal carcinomatosis. Cancer 37(6):2906–2911, 1976
Hitchins RN, Bell DR, Woods RL, Levi JA: A prospective randomized trial of single-agent versus combination chemotherapy in meningeal carcinomatosis. J Clinic Oncol 5(10):1655–1662, 1987
Giannon L, Greco Fa, Hainsworth JD: Combination intraventricular chemotherapy for meningeal neoplasia. J of Clin Oncol 4(1):68–73, 1986
Wasserstrom WR, Glass JP, Posner JB: Diagnosis and treatment of leptomeningeal metastases from solid tumor: Experience with 90 patients. Cancer 49:759–772, 1982
Ratcheson RA, Ommaya AK: Experience with the subcutaneous cerebrospinal-fluid reservoir — Preliminary report of 60 cases. N Engl J Med 279(19):1025–1031, 1968
Bleyer WA: Current status of intrathecal chemotherapy for human meingeal noeplasms. HEW, NIH, National Cancer Institute Monograph 46:171–178, 1977
Shapiro WR, Young DF, Mehta BM: Methotrexate — Distribution in cerebrospinal fluid after intravenous, ventricular and lumbar injections. N Engl J Med 293(4):161–165, 1975
Gutin PH, Levi JA, Wiernik PH, Walker MD: Treatment of malignant meningeal disease with intrathecal ThioTEPA — A Phase II study. Cancer Treatment Reports (HEW, NIH, NCI) 61(5):885–887, 1977
Kun LE, Pinkel D: Miningeal leukemia — control versus cure. Int J Rad Oncol, Biol, Phy 2:371–373, 1977
Sullivan MP, Moo TE, Trueworth R, Vietti TJ, Hemphrey GP, Komp D: Combination intrathecal therapy for meningeal leukemia — Two versus three drugs. Blood 50(3):471–479, 1977
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sause, W.T., Crowley, J., Eyre, H.J. et al. Whole brain irradiation and intrathecal Methotrexate in the treatment of solid tumor leptomeningeal metastases — A Southwest Oncology Group study. J Neuro-Oncol 6, 107–112 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02327385
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02327385