|
|
Temozolomide as first-line agent in treating
high-grade gliomas: phase II study
S. Chibbaro, L. Benvenuti,
A. Caprio, S. Carnesecchi, F. Pulerą, F. Faggionato, D. Serino, C.
Galli, M. Andreuccetti, N. Buxton and R. Gagliardi
Department of Neurosurgery
(S.C., L.B., A.C., S.C., F.P., F.F., D.S., R.G.), Department of Medical
Oncology, Livorno Hospital, Italy (C.G., M.A.); The Walton Centre for Neurology
and Neurosurgery, Liverpool, UK (N.B.)
Temozolomide a recent, oral, second generation alkylating agent is a
chemotherapeutic with demonstrated efficacy for the treatment of high-grade
gliomas; its efficacy has been demonstrated in both pre-clinical and phase I and
II studies.
The goal of this study is to determine the activity and safety of temozolomide
in improving overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and
health-related quality of life (HQL) in patient with malignant gliomas.
Forty-two patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma, anaplastic astrocytoma and
anaplastic oligodendroglioma were studied.
The mean follow-up period was 12 months.
The overall response rate (only responsive patient) for all histological groups
was 40%, 10 patients (24%) showed a stabilization of disease.
The median PFS and OS was respectively 8.35 and 14.1 months: time to progression
was 34 week ranging from 21 to 47.
In all patients, treatment with temozolomide was associated with improvement of
performance status including the patient showing disease progression: Karnofski
score improved in all patients by a minimum of 10, with a median of 20 at 6
months.
No patient stopped the treatment due to side-effects, no major adverse events
were recorded.
Conclusion. Temozolomide appears to be an ideal, first-line,
single-agent, with a safe profile and demonstrated HQL benefits in patients with
high-grade gliomas.
PMID: 15072451 [PubMed]
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15072451
|
