Effect of ACNU Chemotherapy on Malignant Glioma

ABSTRACT

In order to determine if there was an enhancing therapeutic effect of ACNU(1-4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)-methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea hydrochloride, nimustine chloride given in addition to radiotherapy, we performed a randomized clinical study of irradiation alone and combination of irradiation with ACNU in the treatment of malignant gliomas. Thirty-seven patients who were treated in our hospital from August 1990 to September 1992 were included in this study. An effect was defined as a statistically improved survival times. Radiotherpy with a total dose of 5000 to 6500 rads was applied to the whole brain and to a generous field surrounding the tumor. Patients who were assigned to receive chemotherapy were given ACNU intravenously at a dose of 1-2mg/kg. The survival rates of patients with anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme at 18 months after the surgery were 0% and 37% for radiotherapy alone, and 66.7% and 40.1% for radiotherapy plus ACNU, respectively. The median survival times of patients with anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme were 14 and 15 months for radiotherapy alone, and 19 and 16 months for radiotherapy plus ACNU, respectively. The survival rates of patients with malignant gliomas(anaplastic astrocytoma plus glioblastoma multiforme) at 18 months were 5.5% for radiotherapy alone and 45.4% for radiotherapy plus ACNU, and the median survival times were 15 and 16 months, respectively, Althouh the survival rate of patients with malignant gliomas at initial 6 months was much higher in radiotherapy plus ACNU than in radiotherapy alone, the differences between survival curves were not significant at the p=0.05 level. This study demonstrated that, although the use of ACNU during radiotherapy suppressed malignant gliomas more than radiotherapy alone, the survival time was not extended significantly. It is necessary to continue to search for an effective chemotherapapeutic regimen to prolong survival of patients with malignant gliomas.