Treatment of recurrent malignant supratentorial gliomas with the association of carboplatin and etoposide: a phase II study

Thirty one patients previously treated with surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy with a nitrosoureafor malignant supratentorial gliomas received a combination of carboplatin (CBDCA) and etoposide(VP16) at tumor progression. Carboplatin and etoposide(CE) were given, each at a dose of 100 mg/m²/day from day 1 to 3. The response was evaluated at each course and a minimum of three courses was required to definite stable patient.Tolerance was evaluated in 31 patients. None had renalor auditory toxicity. Side effects consisted of grade III hematologic toxicity in 6 patients (19%), and grade III hepatic toxicity in one patient. No gradeIV WHO toxicity was observed.All 31 patients could be evaluated for therapeutic response.A partial response was noted in 4 patients during 13, 34 +, 35 + and 51 + weeks. Ten patients had stabledisease after a minimum of 3 courses (19 to 37 weeks). The rate of partial response (PR)and stabilisation (S) was 45% (14/31). The median time to tumor progression (MTTP) for respondingand stable patients was 28 weeks. The median survival time(ST) for the entire group was 45 weeks and over 51 weeks for PR and S patients.