Background: Exploration of the role of chemotherapy in the treatment of low grade glioma, including oligodendroglioma, has been limited to the pediatric population, reflecting the sensitivity of young patients to radiation-induced toxicity and a desire to avoid this intervention (7-12).
Procedure: Nine adults with progressive oligodendroglioma were treated with carboplatin at a dose of 560 mg/m2 administered at 4 week intervals.
Results: Eight patients have demonstrated stable disease as determined by serial MRI imaging at 2-3 month intervals with neither tumor regression nor growth noted. The ongoing duration of tumor control ranges between 6-22 months. Three patients have completed therapy with carboplatin and continue with stable dis-ease off chemotherapy. One patient progressed after 1 year of therapy with histologic confirmation of growth of well differentiated oligodendroglioma. Toxicity was limited to grade 3 thrombocytopenia in 3 patients and grade 3 neutropenia in 2 patients.
Conclusions: Carboplatin appears to be active in the treatment of adults with progressive oligodendroglioma. Further trials are warranted to more precisely define the role of carboplatin in the treatment of these tumors.