Between 1978 and 1988, 108 consecutive patients with malignant gliomas were treated. The patients were divided into 3 groups as follows: Group I, surgery if possible, otherwise biopsy followed by whole-brain irradiation to a total dose of 34 Gy in 4 fractions, VCR (2 mg i.v.), and BCNU (80 mg/m2 i.v.) repeated every 6 weeks; Group II received irradiation as Group I plus VP16 (75 mg/m2) every 3 weeks and BCNU (50 mg/m2 i.v.) every 6 weeks; Group III received 60 Gy in 30 fractions to the tumor bed plus VCR (2 mg i.v.), BCNU (50 mg/m2 i.v.), and CDDP (15 mg/m2 i.v.) every 6 weeks. In group I, 28 patients had stable disease (SD) and 2 patients showed disease progression (PRO). Median survival time was 9 months (range 1-18). In Group II 22 SD's were observed. Median survival time was 6 months (2-16). In the third group of patients 29 SDs and 14 partial remissions (PR) were recorded. Median survival time in this group was 13 months (range: 3-59+ months). In general, the group of patients treated with radical or subtotal surgery and the group of patients included in neurologic classes I-II and with performance status (PS) > or = 70 had a longer survival. In our experience, patients with grade III and IV astrocytoma receiving treatments similar to those described above showed no difference in survival and response. Regardless of treatment, none of the patients experienced severe toxicity.