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Role of temozolomide in pediatric brain tumors

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Abstract

Features of temozolomide

Temozolomide (TMZ) belongs to the imidazotetrazine class and it is a DNA-methylating agent that has a good antitumor activity. Despite of dacarbazine, TMZ is spontaneously converted into its active metabolite 5-(3-methyltriazen-l-yl)imidazole-4-carboxamide at physiologic pH, so it is not required in enzymatic demethylation in the liver. TMZ is able to cross the blood brain barrier and is stable at gastric acid pH so it has almost 100% oral bioavailability and is rapidly absorbed after it is taken orally.

Temozolomide in cancer patients

On the basis of the relatively safe toxicity and the findings achieved in adult malignant gliomas, phase I and II clinical trials were set up to evaluate the opportunity of using this novel drug in pediatric cancer, too. In this review, we evaluate the antitumor activity of TMZ against high-grade gliomas, low-grade-gliomas, and medulloblastoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumors analyzing several phases I and II clinical trials in children.

Conclusions

In spite of the poor activity of TMZ against pediatric brain tumors, the use of the drug in combination with other compounds should be evaluated in phases I and II clinical trials. Moreover, the evaluation of the methylation status of the O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase promoter in glioblastoma biopsy specimens could be assayed as a predictive factor of TMZ efficacy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Oncology, Catholic University of Rome, Largo A. Gemelli, 8, Rome 00168, Italy

    Giuseppe Barone, Palma Maurizi & Riccardo Riccardi

  2. Pediatric Neurosurgical Unit, Institute of Neurosurgery, Catholic University, Rome, Italy

    Giampiero Tamburrini

Authors
  1. Giuseppe Barone
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  2. Palma Maurizi
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  3. Giampiero Tamburrini
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  4. Riccardo Riccardi
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Correspondence to Riccardo Riccardi.

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Barone, G., Maurizi, P., Tamburrini, G. et al. Role of temozolomide in pediatric brain tumors. Childs Nerv Syst 22, 652–661 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-006-0081-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-006-0081-z

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