Survival of patients with medulloblastoma treated with carboplatin and etoposide before and after radiotherapy

Background: Medulloblastoma represents 20% of all tumors of the central ner vous system. Patients with partial resection of the tumor and those with ex tension into the neuraxis at diagnosis have been identified as high-risk pa tients. The objective of our study was to determine tumor response, surviva l rates and toxicity with a new scheme of treatment,vith carboplatin, etopo side and radiotherapy. Methods: All patients received chemotherapy with carboplatin and etoposide every 4 weeks for four courses, hyperfractionated radiotherapy, and another four courses of the above chemotherapy scheme. Tumor response was classifi ed, and global and disease-free survival rates were calculated according to the actuarial survival method. Results: A total of 26 patients were included, with a median age of 6.9 yea rs, Nineteen achieved complete response after the first four courses of che motherapy, and two more had a complete response after radiotherapy. A total of seven children have died, three of whom did not respond to initial trea tment, Global and disease-free survival rates were 69% and 64%, respectivel y, at 60 months of follow-up. There was no renal or auditory toxicity, Hema tological toxicity was transitory and reversible, Conclusions: This scheme of treatment is effective and can be safely used f or pediatric patients with high-risk medulloblastomas. Toxicity was not sig nificant, and survival is similar to other reports.