ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERSTITIAL RADIATION PROTOCOL FOR A MULTICENTER CONSORTIUM - EXPERIENCE WITH PERMANENT LOW-DOSE RATE AND TEMPORARY HIGH-DOSE-RATE I-125 IMPLANTS IN FAILED AND NEWLY-DIAGNOSED GLIOBLASTOMA PATIENTS - QUALITY ASSURANCE METHODOLOGY AND A POSSIBLE FUTURE ADJUVANT FOR THERAPEUTIC ENHANCEMENT

Three interstitial implant trial groups (one permanent low-dose rate I -125 and two temporary high-dose rate I-125 implants) in glioblastoma patients ('newly diagnosed' and 'failed') were compared to non-randomi zed similar control groups for efficacy. The results formed the basis for the BTCG 87-01 national implant trial. The 'pilot' trial demonstra ted: 1) the effectiveness of a temporary high-dose rate I-125 implant in 'failed' and 'newly diagnosed' patients; 2) the ability of a multic enter consortium to adhere to a standard protocol; 3) a methodology to insure quality assurance; and 4) the possibility of the future adjuva nt application of hyperthermia using a single catheter system.