Advances of BRM therapy of malignant brain tumors

The cooperative study on the beta-interferon (IFN) therapy for glioblastoma and malignant astrocytoma reported the response rate as 14.0%. Continuing study resulted the response rate of 24.0% to low grade astrocytoma and 20.0% to medulloblastoma. Totally, effectiveness of 19.2% to gliomas was confirmed in 120 evaluated cases. A randomized study was conducted on combination therapy with beta-interferon and chemoradiotherapy. The response rate of 41.2% (21/51) in the group treated with IFN, ACNU and Radiation was significantly higher than the rate of 19.6% (10/51) in the group treated with ACNU and radiation only. Application of IFN to a maintenance therapy is also on going. Adoptive immunotherapy has been developed as potential therapeutic method of malignant glioma. Lymphokine activated killer cells (LAK) and Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) are put to clinical use. Clinical application of human monoclonal antibody (MAb) CLN-IgG was conducted to recurrent malignant glioma. 131I labeled MAb was administered intratumorously and the specific incorporation was confirmed by gamma-scintigraphy. Concomitant administration of interferon enhanced the efficacy of the therapy. This radio-immunotherapy holds future promise as a new therapeutic approach to gliomas.