Between 1984 and 1988, patients suffering from malignant gliomas received intraarterial chemotherapy with HECNU (IAC). Three groups were identified. Group 1 consisted of 56 patients previously treated with surgery and radiation therapy (RT), who received IAC at recurrence. Group 2 consisted of 46 patients with unresectable tumors, and group 3 of 40 patients who had their tumor surgically removed. In groups 2 and 3, three courses of IAC were administered prior to conventional RT (50-54 Gy). Immediate tolerance was good but delayed ocular and cerebral toxicity occurred in 14% and 11% of cases, respectively. A better therapeutic response was observed with anaplastic gliomas than with glioblastomas (GBM). For anaplastic gliomas, median survivals (MS) were 18 months (group 1), 24 months (group 2) and 30 months (group 3). For GBM, MS were 4.5, 7.5 and 10.5 months in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. IAC does not seem to improve the prognosis of GBM.