[Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for symptomatic non operable grade II fibrillary astrocytoma in adults]

Rev Neurol (Paris). 2004 May;160(5 Pt 1):533-7. doi: 10.1016/s0035-3787(04)70982-0.
[Article in French]

Abstract

We collected 6 case-reports of symptomatric non removable low grade fibrillary astrocytoma of adults treated with a procarbazine-CCNU-vincristine chemotherapy regimen. All patients had drug-resistant epilepsy but brain imaging was stable. Total gross resection was rejected because of Volume or tumor location. After 4 to 7 cycles of chemotherapy, 2 patients had partial response and one minor response on brain MRI. All of them were seizure-free. Progression free survival was not reached at 5 Years. Up-front chemotherapy for low-grade astrocytomas may be useful and has to be prospectively evaluated.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Astrocytoma / complications
  • Astrocytoma / drug therapy*
  • Astrocytoma / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms / complications
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Disease Progression
  • Drug Resistance
  • Epilepsy / complications
  • Epilepsy / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lomustine / administration & dosage
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Procarbazine / administration & dosage
  • Procarbazine / adverse effects
  • Vincristine / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Procarbazine
  • Vincristine
  • Lomustine