Introduction: Anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastomas are the most frequent and most malignant hemispherial tumours. Unfortunately, astrocytic tumours are of infiltrative character and radical removal is not possible. Recurrent malignant gliomas are rarely suitable for reoperation. In most of the cases of recurrent gliomas chemotherapy is the last choice.
Patients and method: Seventy-five consecutive patients with recurrent malignant astrocytomas and glioblastomas had been treated at our institute with per os temozolomide for five days every month. The patients received two to 16 courses of chemotherapy. The toxicity, quality of life, response to chemotherapy and survival data were analysed.
Results: Out of 75 patients four were excluded following the first treatment due to myelotoxicity, and allergic reactions. Among the patients treated with temozolomide in seven cases complete response, 17 partial response, 14 progressive disease were observed. In 33 cases the disease stabilized and out of them in 27% a significant neurological improvement was detected. The time to progression was 6.8 months and the median survival time 8.75 months for patients with glioblastoma and with malignant astrocytoma or malignant mixed oligoastrocytoma 9.45 and 11.15 months, respectively. The overall survival for patients with originally lower grade glioma was 70.32 and for patients with glioblastoma multiforme 17.43 months.
Conclusions: Temozolomide chemotherapy in patients with recurrent malignant astrocytoma and glioblastoma proved to be efficacious and similar good results were achieved as with a nitrosourea based combined chemotherapy. Even in those patients who received previous chemotherapy temozolomide is well tolerated and a relatively long time to progression was achieved in cases of recurrent malignant gliomas. In a few number of patients where BCNU had been previously failed with temozolomide stable disease was achieved. Temozolomide seems to be a promising drug in the chemotherapy of malignant gliomas and can be applied as a second line chemotherapy, as well.