Chemotherapy is effective as early treatment for primary central nervous system lymphoma

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a lymphoma arising within the brain or spinal cord in the absence of evident localisation outside the central nervous system (CNS). Poor results in the management of relapsed PCNSL justify the need for vigorous initial therapeutic regimens, and chemotherapy should not be reserved for recurrent disease. Chemotherapy (M-BACOD scheme) was delivered prior to irradiation in a group of 20 PCNSL patients, another 8 PCNSL patients underwent radiotherapy only, and the overall survival was evaluated. Computed tomography (CT) images in the group of patients treated with chemotherapy, showed there to be 70% complete responders (CR), 15% non-responders (NR) and 15% partial responders (PR). Half of the CR were scheduled for radiotherapy only at tumour recurrence. The median disease-free period and survival time of the whole group treated with early chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy were 24 and 32 months, respectively, but in the subgroup of CR (70%), taking into account also the patients not yet receiving radiotherapy, these were 38 and 48 months, respectively. The disease-free and survival times in the group of CR (75%) of patients treated with radiotherapy only were 13 and 18 months, respectively. At tumour recurrence, CR to chemotherapy had a second disease-free period longer than 2 years after radiotherapy. Our data support the belief that in scheduling the treatment of PCNSL after histological diagnosis, the first step is to devise high-dose chemotherapy with drugs able to cross an intact blood-brain barrier. The results of our primary approach with early chemotherapy in PCNSL support a consensus to continue chemotherapy until tumour recurrence, and only at that event to initiate radiotherapy. It is a challenge and an option worthy of continuing investigation. Received: 12 August 1997 Received in revised form: 14 April 1998 Accepted: 26 April 1998     

Chemotherapy in low-grade astrocytoma management

The role of chemotherapy (CHT) in the management of low-grade astrocytoma (LGA) is still unclear. Nineteen children with nonresectable symptomatic LGA were treated with carboplatin (CBDCA) and etoposide (E). There were 15 newly diagnosed cases and 4 were relapses; 6 of the children were under 5 years old. In all children radiological evaluation by CT scan and/or MRI was performed after four courses of CHT. We observed complete response (CR)+ minor response (MR) in 37% of these cases and an improvement in neurological symptoms in 63%. Radiological evaluation performed in 6 patients who received CHT for longer periods (8–12 courses) showed major responses (CR+PR) in 67%. Local radiotherapy (40 Gy) was administered after CHT in 14 cases, but in 3 of these radiotherapy was delayed for 2 years. Five patients did not receive radiotherapy. The overall survival was 58% after an average follow-up of 60 months. All patients with brain stem tumors died of progressive disease even though 3 of these had shown clinical improvement after chemotherapy. In conclusion, in the treatment of nonresectable symptomatic LGA, CHT with CBDCA associated with E can be used to postpone radiotherapy in young children and even to avoid radiotherapy in some cases.     

Fronto-basal interhemispheric approach for craniopharyngiomas extending outside the suprasellar cistern

Objective The aim of the present study was to establish the usefulness of the fronto-basal approach with a relatively small craniotomy window for the removal of tumors protruding from the sellar–suprasellar region to the third and basal cistern.Method Forty-two patients who were surgically treated for craniopharyngiomas extending outside the sellar–suprasellar region were evaluated. All the patients were operated on by the fronto-basal interhemispheric approach, and the average follow-up period was 5 years.Results Gross total resection of the lesion was achieved in 30 cases. Eight patients underwent subtotal resection and four patients underwent partial removal due to recurrence after previous surgeries with or without radiotherapy. In the immediate postoperative period, major complications, including impairment of the cranial nerves, were observed in two cases. One patient exhibited transient memory disturbance due to infarction of the perforator; after 3 months, this symptom was ameliorated. Three of the patients died during follow-up; however, 6 of the 30 undergoing gross total removal and 10 of the 12 patients undergoing subtotal or partial removal suffered regrowth. Ultimately, a total of 12 patients underwent re-operation with the same approach or combined with the orbito-zygomatic approach.Conclusion In our experience, the fronto-basal interhemispheric approach, even through a small craniotomy window, is a valid choice for the removal of craniopharyngiomas extending outside the sellar–suprasellar region. Using this approach, tumors can be removed without significant sequelae related to surgical technique due to easy preservation of the pituitary stalk, hypothalamic structures, and perforators. This approach offers a safe and minimally invasive means of treating craniopharyngiomas.     

Early clinical and neuroradiological worsening after radiotherapy and concomitant temozolomide in patients with glioblastoma: Tumour progression or radionecrosis?

Objectives

This study investigates the diagnosis and management of patients with resected brain glioblastomas who presented early clinical and neuroradiological worsening after the completion of the Stupp protocol. Its aim is to discuss the occurrence of early radionecrosis.

Methods

Fifty patients with brain glioblastoma treated by surgical resection and Stupp protocol were reviewed; 15 among them (30%) had early clinical and neuroradiological worsening at the 6-month follow-up. The MR spectroscopy and surgical findings of these patients are reviewed.

Results

MR spectroscopy was in favour of tumour recurrence in 14 among 15 patients and showed radionecrosis in one. Among 10 patients who were reoperated on, 7 had histologically verified tumour recurrence or regrowth, whereas in 3 histopathology showed necrosis without evidence of tumour. The 7 patients with tumour progression had prevalence of focal neuroradiological signs (6/7) and a survival of 7.5–12 months (median survival 10 months). The 4 patients with early radionecrosis (including one patient who was not reoperated on) had clinical worsening with mental deterioration, confusion and ataxia, and MR spectroscopy positive for tumour recurrence in 3. Three were alive 24–30 months after the end of the radiotherapy, whereas one died at 40 months.

Conclusion

Early radionecrosis after the Stupp protocol is not a rare event due to the radiosensitization effect of temozolomide. This phenomenon may predict a durable response to radiotherapy. MR spectroscopy may simulate tumour recurrence. A correct diagnosis is necessary to avoid useless reoperations and incorrect withdrawal of temozolomide.     

Radical excision of pediatric craniopharyngioma: recurrence pattern and prognostic factors

The purpose of our study was to investigate the pattern of recurrence and the prognostic factors for recurrence of pediatric craniopharyngiomas after radical excision. A series of 36 patients with craniopharyngiomas (21 boys and 15 girls; age range 1-15 years; mean 7.3 years) were reviewed. All patients had undergone radical excision without radiotherapy. The mean follow-up period was 52 months (range 1-149 months). Tumors recurred in 14 patients within 83 months (mean 31.4 months). The overall 5-year recurrence-free survival rate was 55%. Regular neuroimaging follow-up detected tumor recurrence while the lesions were still small before symptoms developed (P<0.05). At the first surgical procedure, the optic nerve/chiasm (n=23) was the most common adhesion site. The most frequent sites of recurrence were the optic nerve/chiasm (n=6) and the pituitary fossa (n=6). Tumor location was the single significant clinical predictor of recurrence. The 5-year recurrence-free survival rate was 39% for those who had an intrasellar tumor component and 81% for those who did not (P<0.05). The Ki-67 labeling indices (LIs) of primary tumors did not have prognostic value for recurrence. Recurrent tumors tended to have higher Ki-67 LIs than their primary counterparts. On the basis of this study, we concluded that craniopharyngiomas with intrasellar components should be followed cautiously and the necessity for regular follow-up should be emphasized, even when the tumor is "totally" resected.     

Ki67 Index Is the Most Powerful Factor for Predicting the Recurrence in Atypical Meningioma : Retrospective Analysis of 99 Patients in Two Institutes

ObjectiveThe primary objective of this study was to identify predicting factors for local control (LC) of atypical meningioma, and we validated them with comparing the predicting factors for recurrence-free survival (RFS). We also examined the rate of LC after surgical resection with or without adjuvant treatment and RFS. MethodsClinical and radiological records of patients with atypical meningiomas diagnosed at two institutes from January 2000 to December 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. Histopathological features were also reviewed using formalin-fixed paraffin embedded samples from pathological archives. ResultsOf the 99 atypical meningiomas eligible for analysis, 36 (36.4%) recurred during the follow-up period (mean, 83.3 months; range, 12–232 months). The rate of 3-year LC and 5-year LC was 80.8% and 74.7%, respectively. The mean time-to-recurrence was 49.4 months (range, 12–150). The mean RFS was 149.3 months (95% confidence interval, 128.8–169.8 months) during the mean follow-up duration of 83.3 months (range, 12–232 months). Multivariate analysis using Cox proportional-hazard regression model showed that the extent of resection (hazard ratio [HR], 4.761; p=0.013), Ki67 index (HR, 8.541; p=0.004), mitotic index (HR, 3.275; p=0.044), and tumor size (HR, 3.228; p=0.041) were independently associated with LC. These factors were also statistically associated with RFS. In terms of radiotherapy after surgical resection, the recurrence was not prevented by immediate radiotherapy because of the strong effect of proliferative index on recurrence. ConclusionThe present study suggests that the extent of resection, proliferative index (according to Ki67 expression) and mitotic index, and tumor size are associated with recurrence of atypical meningiomas. However, our results should be further validated through prospective and randomized clinical trials to overcome the inborn bias of retrospective nature of the study design.     

原发性三叉神经痛经皮半月神经节射频热凝术后复发的危险因素

目的 探讨原发性三叉神经痛（PTN）经皮半月神经节射频热凝术（PRT）治疗后复发的影响因素。方法 回顾性分析2013年6月至2019年12月PRT治疗的438例PTN的临床资料。术后随访12~84个月,中位随访时间49个月。术后3个月以后再次出现三叉神经痛症状判定为复发。结果 438例中,术后复发35例,复发率为8.0%。多因素logistic回归分析显示,非典型疼痛、病程≥48个月、既往微血管减压术或伽玛刀治疗史及术前BNI分级Ⅴ级为PTN病人PRT后复发的独立危险因素（P<0.05）。根据4个独立危险因素的比值比进行赋分,总分0~10分,其中0~5分为低风险组,6~10分为高风险组。低风险组PRT后复发率0fen[3.30%（7/212）]明显低于高风险组[12.39%（28/226）;P<0.001]。ROC曲线分析结果显示,预警评分系统预测PTN病人PRT后复发的曲线下面积为0.729（95％置信区间0.701~0.913）,最佳截断值为6.0分;评分≥6.0分预测术后复发的敏感度为0.939,特异度为0.601,Youden指数为0.540。结论 对PTN病人,如果疼痛不典型、病程长、既往有手术治疗史及术前BNI分级高,PRT后复发风险高,注意密切随访。基于4个危险因素建立的评分系统对预测病人术后复发有一定的价值,有助于临床进行风险评估。     

毛细胞型星形细胞瘤术后残留肿瘤放疗的探讨

目的探讨颅内毛细胞型星形细胞瘤术后残留病灶放疗疗效与价值。方法回顾性分析23例毛细胞型星形细胞瘤术后肿瘤残留的病例资料,23例病人均行i维适形放疗,5例在i维适形放疗后予x-刀推量6～10Gy。复查MRj评估23例放疗疗效。并采用韦氏儿童智力测验量表对儿童进行认知功能评估。结果随访时间11～120个月,中位时间44个月,23例病人无进展生存期（PFS）为44个月。放疗后1年复查MRI评价,全组完全缓解5例,部分缓解2例,疾病稳定16例。8例恢复学业的学龄期儿童IQ平均值104．6±13．4。3例病人出现复发,分别为初次治疗后28、84、100个月。结论毛细胞型星形细胞瘤对放疗有一定敏感性,术后残留肿瘤放疗可提高肿瘤局部控制,延长病人PFS。但长期疗效、远期损伤和对儿童认知功能的影响有待进一步观察。     

Conventional external radiotherapy in the management of clivus chordomas with overt residual disease

Cranial chordomas are uncommon tumors accounting for less than 1% of all intracranial neoplasms. Although they are slowly growing, rarely metastasising tumors, cranial chordomas are challenging to treat due to their critical location, invasive nature and aggressive recurrence. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the role of conventional irradiation in the treatment of clival chordomas with overt residual disease after incomplete surgery. Between January 1979 and December 1997, 18 patients with histologically confirmed clival chordoma were treated with radiotherapy. Median age at the time of diagnosis was 32 years. The mean duration of the symptoms before diagnosis was 33.9 months. Median tumor diameter at initial presentation was 5 cm (range, 3–7 cm). The type of surgical procedure was subtotal excision in 11 patients and biopsy in 7. Radiation treatment was delivered with megavoltage units, and total doses between 50 Gy and 64 Gy (median, 60 Gy) were administered with conventional daily fractions. One patient received additional 12.50 Gy with linear accelerator-based stereotactic radiosurgery after subtotal excision and external irradiation. The mean follow-up time was 43.2 months. Overall survival at 5 years was 35%. Eleven patients showed progression after radiotherapy. The median time to progression after radiotherapy was 40.8 months (38.4–43.2) with a 5-year progression-free survival of 23%. Five patients (29.4%) showed symptomatic relief after radiotherapy while persistent symptoms were recorded for 6 patients. Incomplete surgery and conventional external radiotherapy with a dose of around 60 Gy seem to be inadequate in the treatment of clival chordomas. Received: 31 March 2000 / Accepted in revised form: 11 July 2000     

Pineal tumors: experience with 48 cases over 10 years

The authors retrospectively reviewed 48 patients treated at Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) between 1986 and 1995. There were 35 children and 13 adults, accounting for 10.1% of 345 pediatric and 0.68% of 1914 adult brain tumors in SNUH during the same period. The 48 cases consisted of 33 cases of germ cell tumor (69%, GCT); 6 of pineoblastoma (PB, 12.5%); 3 of pineocytoma (PC, 6.3%); 3 of anaplastic astrocytoma (6.3%); 1 of astrocytoma; 1 of glioblastoma; and 1 of ependymoma. The median age was 13 years (range 1–59) and the male-to-female ratio was 3.36:1. The most frequent presenting symptom was due to increased intracranial pressure (90%), followed by Parinaud syndrome or diplopia (50%). Patients with a benign tumor, such as teratoma (TE), astrocytoma, or ependymoma, underwent surgery by the occipital transtentorial approach (OTT) for attempted radical resection without adjuvant therapy, while patients with immature teratoma (imTE), PC, and anaplastic astrocytoma underwent regional radiotherapy (RT) after debulking via OTT. Seven patients with nongerminomatous malignant GCT (NG-MGCT) and 3 with germinoma (GE) underwent craniospinal radiation only, 6 with GE, a NG-MGCT, and 2 with GE+TE received craniospinal radiotherapy (CSRT) after debulking via OTT. Three patients with GE, 4 with NG-MGCT, and 3 with PB underwent radiochemotherapy after debulking via OTT. Forty-four patients were followed up after treatment. The median follow-up period was 36 months. All patients with GE were alive after RT at 36 months (median) of follow-up (range 7–70 months). All with GE+TE and TE were alive. Three patients with PC or astrocytoma were also alive with stable or no evidence of disease. In 1 of the 3 cases of imTE there was a recurrence. However, 4 patients with NG-MGCT died, all of whom had undergone CSRT only; 2 PB patients were alive (12, 19 months), 1 in a moribund status (36 months), and 2 were dead (6, 60 months). The overall mean survival time with pineal tumors was 66 months and the 3-year survival rate was 84% with minimal posttreatment complications. It is concluded that pineal region tumors have male and childhood predominances, and the most common tumor is GCT. The majority of pineal region tumors are malignant. Pineal region tumors can be approached safely and effectively and the surgical complications are mostly transient. Their prognosis is dependent on the pathologies and treatment modalities.     

Early-onset occipital idiopathic epilepsy: a syndrome to be treated?

The purpose of this study was to evaluate prognostic factors in early-onset childhood epilepsy with occipital paroxysms. We studied retrospectively a population of 46 patients, which was divided into three groups according to seizure frequency group 1, patients experiencing a single seizure (3396); group 2, patients experiencing two to six seizures (48%); and group 3, patients experiencing more than six seizures (20%). The mean follow-up period was about 5 years in the three groups. At the end of the first 6 months of this retrospective follow-up, the average number of seizures was higher in group 3 (2.9 seizures) than in groups 2 and 1 (1.8 and 1 seizure, respectively). We suggest that low seizure frequency in the first 6 months of follow-up could have prognostic value. We propose that the introduction of anti-epilepsy drugs be delayed for 6 months following epilepsy onset and be subsequently limited to patients with frequent seizure recurrence.     

Clinical Analysis of Intracranial Hemangiopericytoma

Objective

Intracranial hemangiopericytomas (HPCs) are rare tumors with aggressive behavior, including local recurrence and distant metastasis. We conducted this retrospective study to evaluate the efficacy of grossly total resection and adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for these tumors.

Methods

A total of 13 patients treated for intracranial HPC from January 1995 through May 2013 were included in this retrospective study. We analyzed the clinical presentations, radiologic appearances, treatment results, and follow-up outcomes, as well as reviewed other studies.

Results

The ages of the patients at the time of diagnosis ranged from 26 to 73 years (mean : 48 years). The majority of the patients were male (92.3%), and the majority of the tumors were located in the parasagittal and falx. The ratio of intracranial HPCs to meningiomas was 13 : 598 in same period, or 2.2%. Seven patients (53.8%) had anaplastic HPCs. Nine patients (69.2%) underwent gross total tumor resection in the first operation without mortality. Eleven patients (84.6%) underwent postoperative adjuvant RT. Follow-up period ranged from 13 to 185 months (mean : 54.3 months). The local recurrence rate was 46.2% (6/13), and there were no distant metastases. The 10-year survival rate after initial surgery was 83.9%. The initial mean Karnofsky performance scale (KPS) was 70.8 and the final mean KPS was 64.6.

Conclusion

Gross total tumor resection upon initial surgery is very important. We believe that adjuvant RT is helpful even with maximal tumor resection. Molecular biologic analyses and chemotherapy studies are required to achieve better outcomes in recurrent intracranial HPCs.     

Treatment strategies for initially disseminated intracranial germinomas

Purpose

Initially disseminated intracranial germinomas (IDIGs) can be observed in pre-adult and adolescent brain tumor patients. However, the disease prognosis is undetermined, and the method of optimal treatment remains controversial.

Methods

From January 1990 to January 2011, data on 91 intracranial germinoma patients (≤20?years old) were gathered from the Pediatric Brain Tumor database at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. A total of seven patients with a median age of 17.0?years had IDIGs (lesion sites >2), including IDIGs in the ventricular system or the spinal column. Craniospinal irradiation (CSI) plus a primary or metastatic boost was the mainstay strategy for radiotherapy. Six out of a total of seven patients (85.7%) also received systemic chemotherapy (CHT) after radiotherapy. Survivals rates between IDIGs and patients without dissemination were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

The median follow-up time for all seven patients was 67.5?months (range, 10.3–142.3?months). None of the IDIG patients experienced a recurrence or mortality after the completion of treatment. The 5- and 10-year disease-free survival (DFS) between IDIG and non-dissemination patients were 100%, 100%, 93.0% and 78.6%, respectively (p?=?0.339). The 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS) between IDIGs and non-dissemination cases were 100%, 100%, 93.7% and 89.4%, respectively (p?=?0.473).

Conclusions

IDIG patients did not show reduced survival compared to non-dissemination patients if optimal radiotherapy and chemotherapy were used together.     

Combined systemic and intraventricular chemotherapy in primary CNS lymphoma: a pilot study

The objective was to evaluate response rate, response duration, and toxicity after systemic and intraventricular chemotherapy in primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL). From September 1995 to September 1998, 20 consecutive patients with PCNSL (median age 64, range 27 to 71 years) were enrolled in a pilot study evaluating chemotherapy without radiotherapy. A high dose methotrexate (MTX) (cycles 1, 2, 4, 5) and cytarabine (ara-C) (cycles 3, 6) based systemic therapy (including dexamethasone, vinca alkaloids, ifosfamide, and cyclophosphamide) was combined with intraventricular MTX, prednisolone, and ara-C. Complete response was achieved in 11 and partial remission in two patients; in one response could not be determined. Four patients showed progressive disease and two (70, 71 years) died from treatment related complications. Observation time was 2 to 59 months (median 31.5 months). Kaplan-Meier estimate for median time to treatment failure (TTF) was 20.5 months, and for median survival 54 months. Systemic toxicity was mainly hematological. Ommaya reservoir infection occurred in four patients and acute transient MTX induced encephalopathy in two (subacute in another). Cognitive dysfunction possibly due to treatment was seen in only one patient after relapse and after a total of 12 cycles (six at relapse). In conclusion, primary chemotherapy based on high dose MTX and ara-C is highly efficient in PCNSL. Toxicity is manageable in patients younger than 70 years.     

神经节细胞胶质瘤(附28例分析)

目的 分析手术切除范围及放疗对预防神经节细胞胶质瘤术后复发的意义。方法 回顾性分析28例经手术治疗神经节细胞胶质瘤的手术切除范围及放疗后病人肿瘤复发情况，随访7个月～6年10个月。结果 18例肿瘤全切病人中，2例复发，均未经放疗；6例近全切除的病例中2例复发，其中4例术后加行了放疗；4例大部切除的病例中3例复发，其中2例术后加行放疗。死亡1例，失访1例。结论 手术治疗与神经节细胞胶质瘤术后是否复发关系最密切，全切能够明显减少肿瘤的复发．放疗不能有效地控制肿瘤复发，但对于分化较差的肿瘤可考虑加行放疗。     

Clinical presentation and therapeutic outcome in 26 patients with primary CNS lymphoma

This retrospective study analyzes clinical features and therapeutic outcome in 26 immunocompetent patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). Most patients presented with personality changes. PCNSL lesions were mainly iso- or hyperdense, enhancing lesions on CT scan, hypointensive on T₁-, and hyperintensive on T₂-weighted MRI. Multiple lesions were found in about 60% of patients. Nine of 11 patients receiving radiotherapy alone showed complete remission (CR). Median survival time after diagnosis (MST) was 13 months. Seven patients received intravenous and intrathecal methotrexate, radiotherapy, and postirradiation intravenous cytarabine. Six of these patients had CR and 5 patients are alive in CR after a median follow-up of 12 months. Five patients received various other radiochemotherapy regimens (MST 6 months), and 3 patients died before receiving any radio- or chemotherapy. Our preliminary treatment results show a tendency to improved survival with radiochemotherapy. This is consistent with pertinent data from the literature which favors radiochemotherapy for patients with PCNSL.     

German Cancer Society Neuro-Oncology Working Group NOA-03 multicenter trial of single-agent high-dose methotrexate for primary central nervous system lymphoma

The prospective multicenter NOA-03 trial, conducted by the Neuro-Oncology Working Group (NOA) of the German Cancer Society, was initiated to define the feasibility and efficacy of single-agent high-dose methotrexate therapy without concomitant radiotherapy in immunocompetent patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma. Thirty-seven patients (median age, 60 years) received 179 biweekly courses of 8 g/m2 methotrexate. Response was assessed after 3 and 6 courses. We had planned to enter 105 patients into the trial. Since fewer than the projected 18 of 37 patients achieved a complete response after an intermediate analysis, the trial was closed. In intention-to-treat analysis, 11 of 37 patients (29.7%) achieved complete response, whereas 14 of 37 patients (37.8%) were found to have progressive disease. The median relapse-free survival among complete response patients was 13.7 months. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that corticosteroid application during the first methotrexate course was associated with complete response. The regimen was well tolerated, but, unlike previously reported results, the activity of high-dose methotrexate was only moderate.     

Adult medulloblastoma

Adult medulloblastoma is a rare tumor with few retrospective studies published so far. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy or chemotherapy at relapse is unclear. This study reports therapy and outcome in all adult ( 16 years old) medulloblastoma (n = 34) and supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) patients (n = 2) treated in 2 neuro–oncological centers between 1976 and 2002. The median age was 24.5 years (range 16–76). After resection, 16 patients were treated with craniospinal radiotherapy alone, 20 patients also received adjuvant chemotherapy (8 vincristine, CCNU, cisplatin; 7 methotrexate alone or methotrexate/vincristine–based polychemotherapy; 5 other protocols). Median survival in the whole cohort was 126 months (2+ – 200+ months). Five–year and 10–year survival rates were 79 % and 56%. Adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with a non–significant trend to prolonged survival (relative risk (RR) 1.89; p = 0.068). The median progression–free survival (PFS) after primary therapy was 83 months. At relapse, 10 of 12 evaluable patients achieved a complete response upon second–line therapy. The median survival times from first (n = 17) and second relapse (n = 9) were 21 months (0–67+ months; 5/17 without second relapse) and 20 months (1–29 months). Cox regression analysis revealed the infiltration of the floor of the 4^th ventricle at diagnosis as the only therapy–independent prognostic factor (RR 0.48; p = 0.03). In conclusion, adjuvant chemotherapy may prolong survival in adult medulloblastoma patients. Moreover, second–line therapy may be beneficial for these patients. As in pediatric medulloblastoma patients, primary infiltration of the floor of the 4^th ventricle indicates a poor prognosis.This publication is dedicated to the late Joachim Kühl, MD, whose life was dedicated to improve therapy for medulloblastoma patients.*Drs. Herrlinger and Steinbrecher contributed equally to this work.     

A role for preirradiation PCV chemotherapy for oligodendroglial brain tumors

Oligodendroglial tumors have been identified as a subgroup of glial neoplasms with a distinctly better response to chemotherapy and overall survival than purely astrocytic gliomas. Here we report our experience with adjuvant postirradiation and preirradiation chemotherapy using procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine (PCV) in 27 patients with WHO grade II or III oligodendroglioma or oligoastrocytoma. The efficacy of chemotherapy was assessed according to the Macdonald response criteria (complete response, CR; partial response, PR; stable disease, SD; progressive disease, PD) and progression-free survival intervals by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. First, we confirm that PCV salvage therapy for patients progressing after radiotherapy is highly effective (n = 11, 1 CR, 5 PR, 5 SD; median progression-free survival has not yet been reached, but is longer than 18 months). Second, 3 patients who received radiotherapy plus PCV as first-line therapy achieved CR and 2 achieved SD, and all 5 are progression-free with a median follow-up of 12 months. Third, given these encouraging results, 11 patients received postoperative preirradiation PCV chemotherapy and were given radiotherapy only upon progression. Preirradiation PCV chemotherapy was also effective (2 CR, 3 PR, 6 SD; median progression-free survival has not been yet reached, but is longer than 14 months). Patients with anaplastic oligoastrocytomas were as likely to respond to PCV chemotherapy, as were patients with anaplastic oligodendroglioma. Three patients who had previously responded to PCV were successfully treated with a second course of PCV upon recurrence. PCV chemotherapy was also effective in patients with leptomeningeal spread of oligodendrogliomas. A randomized prospective trial is required to compare the effectiveness and neurotoxicity of first-line PCV chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy to the traditional reverse sequence. Received: 20 September 1999/Received in revised form: /1 December 1999/Accepted: 31 December 1999     

脑室内中枢神经细胞瘤诊治分析简

目的探讨脑室内中枢神经细胞瘤（ICN）的诊断及手术治疗效果。方法回顾性分析我科手术治疗并经病理学确诊的9例ICN患者的临床资料。结果肿瘤全切除6例,次全切除3例。无手术死亡病例。1例术前放疗肿瘤体积明显缩小,4例术后辅助放疗。所有患者术后随访3～44月,平均18．7月;2例复发,行γ刀切除;2例并发脑积水行脑室一腹腔分流术;其余患者恢复良好,无肿瘤复发或进展。结论ICN多以慢性颅内高压症状起病,缺乏局灶性神经系统缺损症状,但大多ICN术前根据特征性影像学表现可获得诊断。手术应作为治疗的首选方法,并力争在安全前提下全切除,可获得良好预后。