Abstract
Thirty-one patients with metastatic brain tumors that either failed to respond or recurred after conventional therapy were treated by intra-arterial infusion of 100 mg/m2 of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) into either a carotid or vertebral artery. Five patients (three with lung cancer, one with breast cancer and one with melanoma) had a partial response of the tumor(s) in the distribution of the injected artery. In two patients, brain metastases not in the distribution of the injected artery enlarged, while the tumors perfused by the injected artery responded. In one of these patients, subsequent infusion of BCNU to the enlarging tumor resulted in a partial response. Among responders, the median survival following onset of BCNU was 17 weeks. One patient remains alive and well at 30 weeks. No permanent neurological, retinal or systemic toxicity was observed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Tator CH: Retention of tritiated methotrexate in a transplantable mouse glioma. Cancer Res 36:3058–3066, 1976.
Greenberg HS, Ensminger WD, Seeger JF et al: Intra-arterial BCNU chemotherapy for the treatment of malignant gliomas of the central nervous system: a preliminary report. Cancer Treat Rep 65:803–810, 1981.
Madajewicz S, West CR, Park HC et al: Phase II study —intra-arterial BCNU therapy for metastatic brain tumors. Cancer 47:653–657, 1981.
Stewart DJ, Wallace S, Feun, L et al: A phase I study of intracarotid artery infusion of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) in patients with recurrent malignant intracerebral tumors. Cancer Res 42:2059–2062, 1982.
Phillips TW, Chandler WF, Kindt GW et al: New implantable continuous administration and bolus dose intracarotid drug delivery system for the treatment of malignant gliomas. Neurosurgery 11:213–218,1982.
Fenstermacher JD, Cowles AL: Theoretic limitations of intracarotid infusions in brain tumor chemotherapy. Cancer Treat Rep 61:519–526, 1977.
Levin, VA, Kabra PM, Freeman-Dove MA: Pharmacokinetics of intracarotid artery 14C-BCNU in the squirrel monkey. J Neurosurg 48:587–593, 1978.
Crafts DC, Levin VA, Nielsen SL: Intracarotid BCNU (NSC-409962): a toxicity study in six rhesus monkeys. Cancer Treat Rep 50:541–545, 1976.
Yamada K, Bremer AM, West CR et al: Intra-arterial BCNU in the treatment of metastatic brain tumor from lung carcinoma: a preliminary report. Cancer 44:2000–2007, 1979.
Shapiro WR, Austrian JI: The chemotherapy of brain tumors: a clinical and experimental review. In: Plum F (ed) Recent advances in neurology. FA Davis, Philadelphia, 1969, pp 149–237.
Reed DJ: Metabolism of nitrosoureas. In: Prestayko AW, Crooke ST, Baker LH et al (eds) Nitrosoureas, current status and new developments. Academic Press, New York, 1981, pp 51–68.
Minna JD, Higgins GA, Glatstein ES: Cancer of the lung. In: De Vita VT, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA (eds) Cancer, principles and practice of oncology. JB Lippincott, Philadelphia, 1982, pp 396–474.
Pratt WB, Ruddon RW: The anticancer drugs. Oxford University Press, London, 1979, pp 79–80.
Greenberg HS: Personal communication.
Burger PC, Kamenar E, Schold DC et al: Encephalomyelopathy following high-dose BCNU therapy. Cancer 48: 1318–1327,1981.
Ross RL, Kapp JP, Hochberg F et al: Solvent systems for intracarotid 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-l-nitrosourea (BCNU) infusion. Neurosurgery 12:512–514, 1983.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Address for reprints: Dr. Jerome B. Posner, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cascino, T.L., Byrne, T.N., Deck, M.D.F. et al. Intra-arterial BCNU in the treatment of metastatic brain tumors. J Neuro-Oncol 1, 211–218 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00165605
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00165605