Arteritis and brachial plexus neuropathy as delayed complications of radiation therapy.

Radiation-induced arteritis of large vessels and brachial plexus neuropathy are uncommon delayed complications of local radiation therapy. We describe a 66-year-old woman with right arm discomfort, weakness, and acrocyanosis that developed 21 years after local radiation for breast adenocarcinoma. Arteriography revealed arteritis, with ulcerated plaque formation at the subclavian-axillary artery junction, consistent with radiation-induced disease, and diffuse irregularity of the axillary artery. Electromyography showed a chronic brachial plexopathy. The patient's acrocyanosis, thought to be due to digital embolization from her vascular disease, improved with antiplatelet therapy. The concurrent combination of radiation-induced arteritis and brachial plexopathy is uncommon but should be considered in patients presenting with upper extremity pain or weakness after radiation therapy.

A phase III study of radiation therapy plus carmustine with or without recombinant interferon-alpha in the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed high-grade glioma.

BACKGROUND: The current study was conducted to determine whether the addition of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) to treatment with radiation therapy and carmustine (BCNU) improves time to disease progression or overall survival in patients with high-grade glioma. METHODS: Patients with anaplastic astrocytoma, anaplastic oligoastrocytoma, glioblastoma multiforme, or gliosarcoma received radiation therapy plus BCNU as initial therapy. Subsequently, patients without tumor progression at the completion of radiation therapy were stratified by age, extent of surgery, tumor grade and histology, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, and treating institution, and then were randomly assigned to receive either BCNU alone (200 mg/m(2) on Day 1) or BCNU (150 mg/m(2) on Day 3) plus IFN--alpha (12 million U/m(2) on Days 1-3, Weeks 1, 3, and 5) every 7 weeks for a maximum of 6 cycles. RESULTS: Of the 383 patients enrolled in the study, 275 eligible patients were randomized. There was no significant difference with regard to time to disease progression or overall survival between the two groups. Patients receiving IFN-alpha experienced more fever, chills, myalgias, and neurocortical symptoms including somnolence, confusion, and exacerbation of neurologic deficits. Cox multivariate regression models confirmed known favorable prognostic variables including younger age, Grade 3 tumor (according to World Health Organization criteria), and greater extent of surgery. Cox and classification and regression tree analysis models also demonstrated that a normal baseline Folstein mini-mental status examination (MMSE) score was associated with better prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: IFN-alpha does not appear to improve time to disease progression or overall survival in patients with high-grade glioma and appears to add significantly to toxicity. The baseline MMSE score may serve as an independent prognostic factor and warrants further investigation.

Valvular heart operation in patients with previous mediastinal radiation therapy.

BACKGROUND: The outcome of valvular heart operations in patients with previous mediastinal radiation therapy was studied. METHODS: This is a single center retrospective study of 60 patients (37 females, 23 males) with a mean age of 62 +/- 15 years (28 to 88 years old) operated on from January 1976 to December 1998. Valvular heart operations performed included aortic valve replacements (n = 26), mitral valve procedures (n = 16), tricuspid valve procedures (n = 6), and multiple valve procedures (n = 12). A total of 264 clinical, hemodynamic, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic variables were analyzed. RESULTS: Total follow-up was 199 patient-years with a mean of 3.3 +/- 3.1 years and a range of 0 to 12.4 years old. Early mortality was 7 patients (12%). Early mortality in patients with constrictive pericarditis was 40% (4 of 10) compared with 6% (3 of 50) in patients without constrictive pericarditis. By univariate analysis, early mortality was associated with constrictive pericarditis (p = 0.011), reduced preoperative ejection fraction (p = 0.015), and longer cardiopulmonary bypass times (p = 0.037). A total of 14 patients (23%) required permanent pacemaker placement before (n = 7), during (n = 1), or early (n = 6) after valvular heart operations. There were 19 late deaths (malignancies, 7; heart failures, 5; other cardiac, 4; and other noncardiac, 3). Overall survival and freedom from late cardiac death and cardiac reoperation at 5 years for hospital survivors were 66% +/- 8%, 82% +/- 7%, and 93% +/- 4%, respectively. By univariate analysis, late cardiac death was associated with low ejection fraction (p = 0.002), New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class IV (p = 0.004), preoperative congestive heart failure (p = 0.02), and preoperative atrial fibrillation (p = 0.038). Eighty-five percent of the discharged patients were in NYHA functional class I or II at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Early results of valve replacement after mediastinal radiation therapy were good except in the presence of constrictive pericarditis. Long-term outcome was limited by malignancy and heart failure. Early surgical intervention is recommended before the development of risk factors for late death, namely, severe symptoms, left ventricular dysfunction, and atrial fibrillation.

Meningioma radiosurgery: tumor control, outcomes, and complications among 190 consecutive patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine local control (LC) and complication rates for patients with intracranial meningiomas who underwent radiosurgery. METHODS: One hundred ninety consecutive patients with 206 meningiomas underwent radiosurgery between 1990 and 1998. One hundred forty-seven tumors (77%) involved the cranial base. The median age at the time of radiosurgery was 58 years (range, 20-90 yr). There were 126 female patients (66%). One hundred twelve patients (59%) had undergone one or more previous operations (median, 1; range, 1-5). Twenty-two patients (12%) had either atypical (n = 13) or malignant (n = 9) tumors. The median prescription isodose volume was 8.2 cm(3) (range, 0.5-50.5 cm(3)), and the median tumor margin dose was 16 Gy (range, 12-36 Gy). The median imaging and clinical follow-up periods were 40 and 47 months, respectively. RESULTS: Overall survival rates for the entire cohort at 5 and 7 years were 82 and 82%, respectively; cause-specific survival rates at 5 and 7 years were 94 and 92%, respectively. The cause-specific survival rates at 5 years for patients with benign, atypical, and malignant tumors were 100, 76, and 0%, respectively (P < 0.0001). The 5-year LC rate was 89%, with 114 tumors (56%) decreasing in size. LC rates were correlated with tumor histological features (P < 0.0001); patients with benign tumors exhibited a 5-year LC rate of 93%, compared with 68 and 0% for patients with atypical or malignant meningiomas, respectively. No correlation was observed between radiation dose and LC rate. Twenty-four patients (13%) experienced treatment-related complications, including cranial nerve deficits (8%), symptomatic parenchymal changes (3%), internal carotid artery stenosis (1%), and symptomatic cyst formation (1%). Only six patients (3%) exhibited decreases in functional status that were directly related to radiosurgery. Tumor volume, tumor margin dose, or previous radiotherapy was not associated with the development of radiation-related complications. CONCLUSION: Radiosurgery is an effective management strategy for many patients with meningiomas. Patients with atypical or malignant tumors exhibit high recurrence rates despite the use of radiosurgery, and these patients continue to exhibit worse cause-specific survival rates despite aggressive treatment, including surgery, external-beam radiotherapy, and radiosurgery. Further study is needed to determine the tumor control and complication rates 10 years or more after meningioma radiosurgery.

Stereotactic radiosurgery for cavernous malformations.

OBJECT: The use of stereotactic radiosurgery to treat cerebral cavernous malformations (CMs) is controversial. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of CM radiosurgery, the authors reviewed the experience at the Mayo Clinic during the past 10 years. METHODS: Seventeen patients underwent radiosurgery for high-surgical-risk CMs in the following sites: thalamus/basal ganglia (four patients), brainstem (12 patients), and corpus callosum (one patient). All patients had experienced at least two documented hemorrhages before undergoing radiosurgery. Stereotactic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was used for target localization in all cases. The median margin radiation dose was 18 Gy and the median maximum dose was 32 Gy. The median length of follow-up review following radiosurgery was 51 months. The annual hemorrhage rate during the 51 months preceding radiosurgery was 40.1%, compared with 8.8% in the first 2 years following radiosurgery and 2.9% thereafter. In 10 patients (59%) new neurological deficits developed that were associated with regions of increased signal on long-repetition time MR imaging performed a median of 8 months (range 5-16 months) after radiosurgery. Three patients recovered, giving the group a permanent radiation-related morbidity rate of 41%. Compared with 31 patients harboring arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of sizes and in locations similar to those of the aforementioned CMs, who underwent radiosurgery during the same time period, the patients with CMs were more likely to experience radiation-related complications (any complication, 59% compared with 10%; p < 0.001; permanent complication, 41% compared with 10%; p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: It is impossible to conclude that radiosurgery protects patients with CMs against future hemorrhage risk based on the available data, although it appears that some reduction in the bleeding rate occurs after a latency interval of several years. The risk of radiation-related complications after radiosurgery to treat CMs is greater than that found after radiosurgery in AVMs, even when adjusting for lesion size and location and for radiation dose.

The rationale and technique of staged-volume arteriovenous malformation radiosurgery.

PURPOSE: Stereotactic radiosurgery is an effective management strategy for properly selected arteriovenous malformation (AVM) patients. However, the risk of postradiosurgical radiation-related injury generally limits this procedure to patients with AVMs of an average diameter of 3 cm or less. Radiosurgery of large AVMs in a planned staged fashion was undertaken to limit the radiation exposure to the surrounding normal brain. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between April 1997 and December 1999, 10 patients with a median AVM volume of 17.4 cm(3) (range, 7.4-53.3 cm(3)) underwent staged-volume radiosurgery (23 procedures). At the first radiosurgical procedure, the total volume of the AVM is estimated and a dose plan calculated that covers 10 cm(3)-15 cm(3), or one-half the nidus volume if the AVM is critically located (brainstem, thalamus, or basal ganglia). At 6-month intervals thereafter, radiosurgery was repeated to different portions of the AVM with the previous dose plan(s) being re-created utilizing intracranial landmarks to minimize radiation overlap. Radiosurgical procedures were continued until the entire malformation has been irradiated. RESULTS: The radiation dosimetry of staged-volume AVM radiosurgery was compared to hypothetical single-session procedures for the 10 patients. Staged-volume radiosurgery decreased the 12-Gy volume by an average of 11.1% (range, 4.9-21%) (p < 0.001). The non-AVM 12-Gy volume was reduced by an average of 27.2% (range, 12.5-51.3%) (p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: Staged-volume radiosurgery of large AVMs results in less radiation exposure to the adjacent brain. Further follow-up is needed to determine whether this technique provides a high rate of AVM obliteration while maintaining an acceptable rate of radiation-related complications.

Stereotactic radiosurgery for recurrent ependymoma.

BACKGROUND: Patients with recurrent intracranial ependymomas were evaluated to assess local control, overall survival, and complications from stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). METHODS: Twelve patients (with a total of 17 tumors) with recurrent ependymoma underwent SRS. Local failure was defined as tumor progression within the prescription isodose volume, and marginal failure was defined as tumor progression adjacent to the SRS prescription isodose volume. Tumor progression away from the prescription volume was considered distant failure. Eleven of the 12 patients had undergone previous resection and external beam radiation therapy (46-56 Grays [Gy]; median, 54 Gy) before radiosurgery, and 1 patient had failure after complete resection alone. Age at SRS ranged from 5-56 years (median, 29 years). Three patients were female. The marginal tumor dose was 12-24 Gy (median, 18 Gy). One to 14 isocenters (median, 4 isocenters) were utilized to irradiate volumes of 0.3-15.5 cm(3) (median, 3.2 cm(3)). RESULTS: The duration of follow-up ranged from 2.5-60 months (median, 22.5 months). The median overall survival after SRS was 3.4 years (range, 1.4-5 years). In-field local control was achieved in 14 of the 17 tumor sites and estimated 3-year local control was 68%. There were two in-field failures and one marginal failure. Distant failure occurred in two patients. Two patients developed treatment-related complications after SRS. CONCLUSIONS: SRS provides good local tumor control for patients with recurrent intracranial ependymoma and may have a favorable impact on survival. SRS should be evaluated more extensively in the initial treatment of patients with ependymoma to minimize local failure after surgical management.

Results of repeated gamma knife radiosurgery for medically unresponsive trigeminal neuralgia.

OBJECT: Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) is being increasing performed in the management of patients with medically unresponsive trigeminal neuralgia. The authors report the results of repeated GKS in patients with recurrent facial pain after their initial procedure. METHODS: Between April 1997 and December 1999, 100 patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia underwent GKS at the authors' center. To date, 26 patients have required additional surgery because GKS provided no significant pain relief (15 patients) or because they had recurrent facial pain (11 patients). Ten of these patients underwent repeated GKS at a median of 13 months (range 4-27 months). All patients undergoing repeated GKS had a significant reduction in their facial pain after the first procedure (eight were pain free); no patient developed facial numbness or paresthesias. Initially, nine of 10 patients became pain free 1 to 4 weeks following repeated GKS. At a median follow up of 15 months (range 3-32 months), eight patients remained pain free and required no medication. All eight patients with persistent pain relief developed minor neurological dysfunction after repeated GKS (six patients had facial numbness and two had paresthesias). CONCLUSIONS: Repeated GKS can be associated with a high rate of pain relief for patients with trigeminal neuralgia who experienced a significant reduction in their facial pain after the first operation. However, every patient with sustained pain relief after the second operation also developed some degree of trigeminal dysfunction. These findings of improved pain relief for patients who develop facial numbness after GKS for trigeminal neuralgia support the experimental data currently available.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis: diagnosis, natural history, management, and outcome.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this descriptive analysis of a large cohort of patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) was to add to the understanding of the natural history, management, and outcome of this disease. METHODS: Three hundred fourteen Mayo Clinic patients with histologically proven LCH were categorized into those patients with multisystem disease and those patients with single system disease. Clinical features, treatment, and outcome were determined from the case history notes and tumor registry correspondence. Treatment included chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical excision. The end points were disease free survival, active disease, or death. The median time of follow-up was 4 years (range, 1 month to 47.5 years). RESULTS: The age of the patients ranged from 2 months to 83 years. Of the 314 patients, there were 28 deaths. Multisystemic LCH was found in 96 patients, 25 of whom had continuing active disease after treatment. Isolated bone LCH lesions were observed in 114 of the 314 patients, 111 of whom (97%) achieved disease free survival after treatment. The most common sites of osseous LCH were the skull and proximal femur. Of the 87 patients with isolated pulmonary involvement, only 3 were nonsmokers. After treatment with corticosteroids (+/- cyclophosphamide or busulphan), 74 patients achieved disease free survival, but 10 patients died. Pituitary-thalamic axis LCH, characterized by diabetes insipidus, was found in 44 patients. After treatment, 30 of these patients had disease free survival, but all required long term hormone replacement with desmopressin acetate. Lymph node involvement was found in 21 patients, and mucocutaneous involvement was found in 77 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with isolated bone LCH lesions have the best prognosis compared with patients with LCH involvement of other systems. By contrast, 20% of patients with multisystem involvement have a progressive disease course despite treatment. The identification of prognostic indicators to facilitate appropriate treatment and long term follow-up surveillance is recommended.

A multi-institutional analysis of complication outcomes after arteriovenous malformation radiosurgery.

PURPOSE: To better understand radiation complications of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) radiosurgery and factors affecting their resolution. METHODS AND MATERIALS: AVM patients (102/1255) who developed neurological sequelae after radiosurgery were studied. The median AVM marginal dose (Dmin) was 19 Gy (range: 10-35). The median volume was 5.7 cc (range: 0.26-143). Median follow-up was 34 months (range: 9-140). RESULTS: Complications consisted of 80/102 patients with evidence of radiation injury to the brain parenchyma (7 also with cranial nerve deficits, 12 also with seizures, 5 with cyst formation), 12/102 patients with isolated cranial neuropathies, and 10/102 patients with only new or worsened seizures. Severity was classified as minimal in 39 patients, mild in 40, disabling in 21, and fatal in 2 patients. Symptoms resolved completely in 42 patients for an actuarial resolution rate of 54% +/- 7% at 3 years post-onset. Multivariate analysis identified significantly greater symptom resolution in patients with no prior history of hemorrhage (p = 0.01, 66% vs. 41%), and in patients with symptoms of minimal severity: headache or seizure as the only sequelae of radiosurgery (p < 0.0001, 88% vs. 34%). CONCLUSION: Late sequelae of radiosurgery manifest in varied ways. Further long-term studies of these problems are needed that take into account symptom severity and prior hemorrhage history.

Phase II trial of primary chemotherapy followed by reduced-dose radiation for CNS germ cell tumors.

PURPOSE: A prospective phase II study was initiated to assess the response rate, survival, and late effects of treatment in patients with newly diagnosed CNS germ cell tumors (GCT), using etoposide plus cisplatin followed by radiation therapy prescribed by extent of disease, histology, and response to chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventeen patients aged 8 to 24 years with histologically proven CNS GCT received etoposide (100 mg/m2/d) plus cisplatin (20 mg/m2/d) daily for 5 days every 3 weeks for four cycles, followed by radiation therapy. Nine patients had germinomas; eight had mixed GCT. Four patients (three with germinomas and one with mixed GCT) presented with leptomeningeal dissemination. RESULTS: Radiographically, 14 of 17 patients were assessable for response; 11 patients experienced complete regression, and three had major partial regression before radiation. Six of seven assessable patients with elevated CSF levels of alpha-fetoprotein or betahuman chorionic gonadotropin had normalization with chemotherapy alone; all normalized with combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy. All 17 patients are alive without evidence of disease (median follow-up, 51 months). One patient developed a relapse in the spinal leptomeninges and was rendered free of disease with spinal radiation more than 5 years ago. One patient developed carotid stenosis requiring surgery. Thus far, only minimal long-term deterioration in neurocognitive function has been detected as a consequence of protocol treatment. CONCLUSION: Conventional-dose intravenous chemotherapy with etoposide and cisplatin can effect tumor regression in a high proportion of patients with CNS GCT, including those with leptomeningeal metastases. Acute and long-term toxicities are acceptable. Progression-free survival and overall survival are excellent.

The Mayo Clinic gamma knife experience: indications and initial results.

OBJECTIVE: To review the results and expectations of contemporary stereotactic radiosurgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 1,033 consecutive patients who underwent gamma knife radiosurgery at Mayo Clinic Rochester between January 1990 and January 1998. RESULTS: The number of patients undergoing radiosurgery increased from 57 in 1990 to 216 in 1997. Of 97 patients with arteriovenous malformations who underwent follow-up angiography 2 years or more after a single radiosurgical procedure, 72 (74%) had complete obliteration of the vascular malformation. Of 209 patients who underwent radiosurgery for benign tumors (schwannomas, meningiomas, or pituitary adenomas) and had radiologic studies after 2 years or more of follow-up, tumor growth control was noted in 200 (96%). Tumor growth was also controlled in 90% of brain metastatic lesions at a median of 7 months after radiosurgery. Of 20 patients with trigeminal neuralgia and follow-up for more than 2 months, 14 (70%) were free of pain after radiosurgery. CONCLUSION: Radiosurgery is a safe and effective management strategy for a wide variety of intracranial disorders. Use of radiosurgical treatment should continue to increase as more data become available on the long-term results of this procedure.

Decrease in cranial nerve complications after radiosurgery for acoustic neuromas: a prospective study of dose and volume.

PURPOSE: To determine whether tumor control can be maintained, and cranial nerve complications decreased by reducing the radiosurgical dose to acoustic neuromas. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Forty-two consecutive patients with acoustic neuromas were treated prospectively using an initial standard-dose protocol in which the tumor-margin dose (50% isodose) was 20, 18, and 16 Gy for tumor diameters < or =2 cm, 2.1-3 cm, and 3.1-4 cm, respectively. After analysis of tumor control and complications, the next 40 patients were treated using a reduced-dose protocol in which the tumor-margin dose was 16, 14, and 12 Gy for tumor volumes < or =4.2 cm3, 4.2-14.1 cm3, and > or =14.1 cm3, respectively. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 2.3 years (range 0.1-6) for 80 of 82 patients. The actuarial incidence (Kaplan-Meier) of facial neuropathy at 2 years was 38% (95% confidence interval [CI], 23-53%) for the standard-dose protocol and 8% (95% CI, 0-17%) for the reduced-dose protocol (p = 0.006). Univariate analysis revealed an association between risk of facial neuropathy and use of CT planning, higher radiosurgical dose, and neurofibromatosis, type 2. Multivariate analysis revealed that the only factor associated with increased risk of post-treatment facial neuropathy was a tumor margin dose > or =18 Gy. The incidence of trigeminal neuropathy at 2 years was 29% (95% CI, 15-43%) for the standard-dose protocol and 15% (95% CI, 3-27%) for the reduced-dose protocol (p = 0.17). Univariate analysis revealed an association between maximal tumor diameter and increased risk of trigeminal neuropathy; multivariate analysis revealed no additional statistically significant associations between tumor and dosimetric and patient characteristics and risk of trigeminal neuropathy. Two tumors in the standard-dose protocol required salvage surgery for progression. To date, no tumor in the reduced-dose protocol has shown progression. CONCLUSION: Our analysis suggests that a tumor margin dose of > or =18 Gy is the most significant risk factor for facial nerve complications after acoustic neuroma radiosurgery. Patients receiving a minimal tumor dose of < or =16 Gy are at significantly lower risk for permanent facial neuropathy after radiosurgery. Longer follow-up is required before definitive conclusions can be made about the ultimate rate of tumor control using reduced radiosurgical doses.

Phase I evaluation of preirradiation chemotherapy with carmustine and cisplatin and accelerated radiation therapy in patients with high-grade gliomas.

OBJECTIVE: A Phase I study was conducted to determine the safety, toxicity, and maximum tolerated dose of preirradiation chemotherapy using carmustine (BCNU) and cisplatin in the treatment of high-grade gliomas. METHODS: Patients with newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas received BCNU and cisplatin after surgery, both before and during definitive radiation therapy. Preirradiation chemotherapy consisted of an administration of 40 mg/m2 BCNU on Days 1 through 3 and 30 mg/m2 cisplatin on Days 1 through 3 and 29 through 31 and repeated at 8 weeks to coincide with the start of radiation therapy. Postradiation chemotherapy consisted of an administration of 200 mg/m2 BCNU once every 8 weeks for four cycles. Radiation therapy consisted of 160-cGy fractions administered twice daily for 15 days, yielding a total dose of 4800 cGy. Dose escalation of BCNU was planned. If hematological toxicity was mild, the dose of cisplatin was to be held constant and BCNU dose escalated to 50 mg/m2 on Days 1 through 3. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were studied. The hematological toxicity was dose-limiting. Grade 3 or 4 leukopenia occurred in each of 10 patients (56%), and Grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia occurred in each of 9 patients (50%). Other toxicities included anorexia (94%), nausea (83%), emesis (33%), alopecia (94%), mild ototoxicity (50%), and, in one patient, death as a result of BCNU pulmonary toxicity. The median survival time was 14 months. Objective responses occurred in 45% of the patients evaluable for response. The maximum tolerated dose of this combination was 50 mg/m2 BCNU on Days 1 through 3 and 30 mg/m2 cisplatin on Days 1 through 3 and 29 through 31 before radiation and repeated in 8 weeks to coincide with the start of radiation. CONCLUSION: This schedule of the preirradiation administration of BCNU and cisplatin with accelerated hyper-fractionated radiation therapy for the treatment of high-grade gliomas provides a less toxic alternative to that of previous studies of preirradiation chemotherapy with these agents and merits further investigation.

Treatment of intermediate risk rhabdomyosarcoma and undifferentiated sarcoma with alternating cycles of vincristine/doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide and etoposide/ifosfamide.

Over 50% of patients with newly diagnosed rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) are in the 'intermediate risk' group with a 3-year progression-free survival of approximately 65%. This group consists of stage 1, group III, non-orbit tumours; stage 2, group II and III; and all stage 3 patients utilising the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study (IRS) staging system. The role of doxorubicin in the treatment of RMS has been controversial. Ifosfamide, both alone and in combination with etoposide, has significant activity in patients with RMS. The aim of this pilot study was to examine the efficacy and toxicity of a chemotherapy regimen of alternating cycles of vincristine/doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide and etoposide/ifosfamide for intermediate risk RMS. 30 patients with intermediate risk RMS or undifferentiated sarcoma (US) were treated with alternating cycles of vincristine/doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (VDC) and etoposide/ifosfamide (EI) at planned intervals of 3 weeks. Local treatment of the tumour in most cases was performed after four cycles of chemotherapy, followed by an additional 10 cycles of chemotherapy. At a median follow-up of 37.5 months, the Kaplan-Meier estimate of 3-year event-free survival was 85% (95% confidence interval 72-99%). The overall survival at 3 years was 91% (95% confidence interval 80-100%). No patient died from toxicity. The most common toxicity was febrile neutropenia in 35% of VDC and 26% of EI cycles. No nephrotoxicity or cardiac toxicity was seen. No patient progressed prior to week 12 local therapy. Alternating cycles of VDC and EI are an effective treatment for patients with intermediate risk RMS and US. Toxicity is tolerable. Delaying local treatment until week 12 does not compromise outcome.

The results of radiotherapy for ependymomas: the Mayo Clinic experience.

PURPOSE: This analysis was performed to examine the outcome of patients with histologically confirmed ependymomas of the brain or spinal cord who received postoperative radiotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Eighty patients with histologically confirmed ependymomas were evaluated retrospectively. All were treated with various combinations of surgery, radiotherapy (RT), and chemotherapy. Follow-up ranged from 5 to 30 years (median 10.4 years). RESULTS: The 5- and 10-year survival rates for the entire study group were 79% and 73%, respectively. Patients with low-grade (1 and 2 of 4) tumors had a 5-year survival rate of 87% as compared to 27% for those with high-grade (3 and 4 of 4) tumors (p < 0.0001). Patients with tumors of the spine had a 5-year survival rate of 97% as compared to 68% for those with infratentorial tumors, and 62% for those with supratentorial tumors (p = 0.03). Patients with myxopapillary ependymomas of the spine had a 5-year survival rate of 100% as compared with 76% for patients with other histological subtypes of ependymoma (p = 0.02). Multivariate analysis revealed that the survival rate was independently associated with tumor grade (p = 0.0007) and histological subtype (p = 0.02). Twenty-eight patients (35%) experienced local failure and 10 patients (13%) developed leptomeningeal seeding. The 5-year leptomeningeal failure rate was 10% in patients with low-grade tumors as compared to 41% for patients with high grade tumors (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients with low-grade tumors, especially those with myxopapillary subtypes, have high 5-year survival rates when treated with post-operative radiotherapy. High grade ependymomas are associated with a much poorer outcome. New forms of therapy are required to improve the outcome of patients with high-grade ependymomas.

Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of preirradiation chemotherapy with BCNU, cisplatin, etoposide, and accelerated radiation therapy in patients with high-grade glioma.

PURPOSE: We conducted a Phase I study of bischloroethylnitrosourea (BCNU), cisplatin, and oral etoposide administered prior to and during accelerated hyperfractionated radiation therapy in newly diagnosed high-grade glioma. Pharmacokinetic studies of oral etoposide were also done. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients started chemotherapy after surgery but prior to definitive radiation therapy (160 cGy twice daily x 15 days; 4800 cGy total). Initial chemotherapy consisted of BCNU 40 mg/m2 days 1-3, cisplatin 30 mg/m2 days 1-3 and 29-31, and etoposide 50 mg orally days 1-14 and 29-42, repeated in 8 weeks concurrent with radiation therapy. BCNU 200 mg/m2 every 8 weeks x 4 cycles was given after radiation therapy. RESULTS: Sixteen patients, 5 with grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma and 11 with glioblastoma were studied. Grade 3-4 leukopenia (38%) and thrombocytopenia (31%) were dose-limiting. Other toxicities were anorexia (81%), nausea (94%), emesis (56%), alopecia (88%), and ototoxicity (38%). The maximum tolerated dose was BCNU 40 mg/m2 days 1-3, cisplatin 20 mg/m2 days 1-3 and 29-31, and oral etoposide 50 mg days 1-21 and 29-49 prior to radiation therapy and repeated in 8 weeks with the start of radiation therapy followed by BCNU 200 mg/m2 every 8 weeks for 4 cycles. Median time to progression and survival were 13 and 14 months respectively. Responses occurred in 2 of 9 (22%) patients with evaluable disease. In pharmacokinetic studies, all patients achieved plasma concentrations of >0.1 microg/ml etoposide (the in vitro radiosensitizing threshold), following a 50 mg oral dose. The mean +/- SD 2 hr and 6 hr plasma concentrations were 0.92 +/- 0.43 microg/ml and 0.36 +/- 0.12 microg/ml, respectively. Estimated duration of exposure to >0.1 microg/ml etoposide was 10-17 hr. CONCLUSIONS: Preirradiation chemotherapy with BCNU, cisplatin, and oral etoposide with accelerated hyperfractionated radiation therapy in high-grade gliomas is feasible and merits further investigation. Sustained radiosensitizing concentrations can be achieved with low oral doses of etoposide.

Second nonocular tumors in survivors of heritable retinoblastoma and prior radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: The principal objectives of this study were to estimate the incidence of second tumors among children treated for heritable retinoblastoma during a 50-year period and to investigate the relationship between these tumors and previous radiation therapy. METHODS: The records of all retinoblastoma patients examined at the Mayo Clinic from 1941 through 1990 were retrospectively reviewed. The therapeutic modality used to manage the tumor, the occurrence of any second malignancy, and current follow-up on all patients were evaluated. RESULTS: Eighty-two (46%) of 180 children with retinoblastoma had bilateral tumors (76 patients) or unilateral disease and a positive family history (six patients) and were followed for an average of 21.8 years (range, 1 month to 53 years). The Kaplan-Meier estimates of second nonocular tumors among the 82 patients with heritable retinoblastoma were 12% at 10 years, 16% at 25 years, and 30% at 40 years. Although 14 of the 15 patients who developed second malignancies had received radiation therapy, only four of the malignancies occurred within the field of irradiation. CONCLUSIONS: The relatively low incidence of second tumors among long-term survivors of heritable retinoblastoma in this series of patients occurred predominantly outside the field of irradiation. The variable incidence of second nonocular malignancies in previous reports may reflect variations in radiation technique and dosage.

Management of recurrent meningeal hemangiopericytoma.

BACKGROUND: Meningeal hemangiopericytoma is an uncommon neoplasm with a high propensity for recurrence. The purpose of this study was to analyze the efficacy of different treatment options in patients with recurrent disease. METHODS: The records of all patients with recurrent meningeal hemangiopericytoma treated at the study institution between 1976 and 1996 were reviewed. RESULTS: Thirty-four consecutive patients were studied. The mainstay of treatment was brain surgery in 21 patients (62%); the median time to recurrence from surgery was 12 months. Ten patients (29%) had 20 recurrent central nervous system (CNS) lesions treated by stereotactic radiosurgery. Of these, 3 previously nonirradiated patients (all with lesion size < 25 mm) achieved a complete response, which persisted at a median of 3 years. In 14 lesions (70%) a partial response (PR) occurred with a median duration of 12 months, whereas 3 lesions (15%) remained stable. Two patients with inoperable CNS lesions received external beam radiation therapy and both had PRs lasting 14 and 24 months, respectively. Nine patients (26%) received radiation therapy for metastatic disease. Of these, seven patients remained stable with good symptomatic relief, and two patients experienced tumor progression. Chemotherapy with doxorubicin-containing regimens was administered in 7 patients (21%); there was only 1 PR that lasted 8 months. The median survival from first recurrence was 4.6 years. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical management is important for the successful treatment of patients with recurrent meningeal hemangiopericytoma. Radiosurgery plays a definite role in the treatment of smaller recurrent CNS lesions. Radiation therapy is helpful in the management of inoperable tumors. More effective chemotherapeutic agents are needed.

Phase I evaluation of radiation combined with recombinant interferon alpha-2a and BCNU for patients with high-grade glioma.

PURPOSE: A Phase I study to determine the safety, toxicity, and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of carmustine (BCNU) and interferon alpha-2a (IFN-a) when combined with radiation as initial therapy in high-grade glioma. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients with newly diagnosed Grade 3 or 4 astrocytoma, oligoastrocytoma, or gliosarcoma were enrolled after surgery. All received radiation therapy to the brain (64.8 Gy/36 fractions), combined with a single dose of BCNU (200 mg/m2) at the start of radiation. Chemotherapy after completing radiation consisted of BCNU 150 mg/m2 once every 7 weeks, and IFN-a 12 x 10(6) units/m2 subcutaneously Days 1-3 each week of a 7-week cycle. Subsequent dose modification was based on constitutional symptoms for IFN-a and on myelosuppression for BCNU. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were entered on the study. Four were excluded because they did not receive IFN-a (3 refused treatment and 1 patient left the study due to multiple medical problems). Eleven were evaluable for toxicity and efficacy. Nonhematological toxicity, mainly lethargy and flu-like symptoms, were dose-limiting for IFN-a. After the first 6 patients were treated per the initial protocol, the frequency of IFN-a administration was decreased to Days 1-3 on weeks 1, 3, and 5 of the 7-week cycle for 5 additional patients. Lethargy, fever, chills, myalgias, alopecia, and anorexia occurred in all patients. Other toxicities included nausea and vomiting (91%), central-nervous-system depression or mood changes (64%), headaches (55%), and elevation of liver enzymes (36%). Grade 3-4 leukopenia occurred in 4 (45%) of 11 patients, and Grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia in 3 (27%) of 11 patients. Due to myelosuppressive effects, BCNU dose was not escalated. Median survival of the cohort was 44 months. Objective responses occurred in 5 (56%) of 9 patients and median duration of response was 33 months. The MTD of this combination after radiation therapy is IFN-a 12 x 10(6) units/m2 Days 1-3, on Weeks 1, 3, and 5 of a 7-week cycle and BCNU 150 mg/m2 Day 1, every 7 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with radiation, IFN-a, and BCNU is feasible and effective in patients with high-grade gliomas, although constitutional symptoms from IFN-a are substantial.