Summary.
Background: To study efficacy and safety of chemotherapy using carboplatin (JM-8) and etoposide (“JET” therapy) for the treatment of recurrent malignant glioma, a phase II study was conducted. Tumour control, survival time, and toxicity/side effects were assessed in patients with recurrent malignant glioma which failed to respond to a postoperative combined auxiliary therapy comprising of IFN-β, ACNU and radiation.
Methods: Twenty-eight patients, fourteen with anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) and fourteen with glioblastoma (GB) were included in this study. The JET regimen consists of the intravenous administration of carboplatin (300 mg/m2) on day 1 and etoposide (60 mg/m2) on day 1 to 5, repeated every 6 weeks.
Findings: Following the therapy, we observed partial response (PR) in five (36%) of 14 patients with AA and two (14%) of 14 with GB, and stabilization of the disease (SD) in six (43%) in each group. The mean survival/survival after recurrence was 51 months/25 months in the AA group, and 17/9 in the GB group.
Interpretations: These results compare favorably with the natural course of recurrent malignant glioma. JET shows signs of efficacy in patients with recurrent malignant glioma, and a randomized trial comparing it to standard therapy is warranted.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Published online December 5, 2002
Correspondence: Dr. Kunihiko Watanabe, M.D., D.M.Sc., Division of Neurosurgery, Tochighi Cancer Center, 4-9-13, Yohnan, Utsunomiya, Tochighi, 320-0834, Japan.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Watanabe, K., Kanaya, H., Fujiyama, Y. et al. Combination Chemotherapy Using Carboplatin (JM-8) and Etoposide (JET Therapy) for Recurrent Malignant Gliomas: A Phase II Study. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 144, 1265–1270 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-002-1023-5
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-002-1023-5