Temozolomide dosing regimens for glioma patients

Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2012 Jun;12(3):286-93. doi: 10.1007/s11910-012-0262-y.

Abstract

Even in modern times of high-precision brain surgery and irradiation, malignant gliomas belong to the deadliest types of cancer. Due to a marked primary and presumably also acquired resistance, the beneficial effects of cytotoxic chemotherapy are limited. Only one randomized clinical trial demonstrated a significant impact on overall survival with temozolomide. Ever since, there have been attempts to improve the efficacy of alkylating chemotherapy by modulating the distribution of dose in time aiming at a better treatment success. Apart from higher cumulative doses per cycle, better efficacy by depletion of the anti-alkylating O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) protein has been a major goal of these regimens. After promising results of single-arm pilot studies, however, randomized studies have been disappointing so far. In this overview, the different strategies of dose-dense temozolomide regimen are highlighted and results of clinical trials put into perspective.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / therapeutic use*
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Dacarbazine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Dacarbazine / therapeutic use
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Glioma / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Temozolomide
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • Dacarbazine
  • Temozolomide