[What type of adjuvant chemotherapy should be proposed for the initial treatment of glioblastoma?]

Presse Med. 2007 Sep;36(9 Pt 2):1249-54. doi: 10.1016/j.lpm.2007.02.002. Epub 2007 Mar 12.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Carmustine wafers (Gliadel) and temozolomide (Temodal) were recently approved for initial management of glioblastoma. Gliadel) is a polymer wafer containing carmustine. These wafers are designed to be placed in the surgical cavity after glioblastoma resection to deliver local chemotherapy. This treatment is intended for tumors for which gross total resection is possible. Temozolomide is administered concomitantly with radiotherapy for six weeks followed by six cycles of adjuvant temozolomide (EORTC 26981, also known as "Stupp's protocol"). Temozolomide administered according to this protocol produced a median survival benefit of 2 months in glioblastomas, and carmustine a similar benefit in high-grade gliomas. The two-year survival rate was 26.5% with radiotherapy plus temozolomide compared with 10.4% with radiotherapy alone. In patients with complete resection, two-year survival reached 38%. These two new treatments are essentially intended for patients younger than 70 years and with a Karnofsky index>70. Ongoing studies are evaluating the possible value of combining these two treatments.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / therapeutic use
  • Biocompatible Materials / therapeutic use
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / mortality
  • Carmustine
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / methods*
  • Dacarbazine / analogs & derivatives
  • Dacarbazine / therapeutic use
  • Decanoic Acids / therapeutic use
  • Glioblastoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Glioblastoma / mortality
  • Humans
  • Polyesters / therapeutic use
  • Survival Rate
  • Temozolomide
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Decanoic Acids
  • Polyesters
  • Dacarbazine
  • decanedioic acid-4,4'-(1,3-propanediylbis(oxy))bis(benzoic acid) copolymer
  • Carmustine
  • Temozolomide