ACTIVITY OF HIGH-DOSE CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE IN THE TREATMENT OF CHILDHOOD MALIGNANT GLIOMAS

Seventeen patients less than or equal to 20 years of age with newly di agnosed (n = 10) or recurrent (n = 7) malignant gliomas (anaplastic as trocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme) were treated with cyclophospham ide in association with hematopoietic cytokines (GM-CSF or C-CSF). Cyc lophosphamide was given at a dose of 2 g/m(2) daily for 2 days al 4-we ek intervals. Toxicity consisted of grade IV neutropenia and thrombocy topenia in 95% and 48% of cycles, respectively. There were no cyclopho sphamide-related cardiac, pulmonary, or urothelial toxicities observed . Four of 10 patients with newly diagnosed disease demonstrated respon ses (three complete and one partial responses; one CR was only of 2 mo nths duration). None of the seven patients with recurrent tumors demon strated a response. We conclude that high-dose cyclophosphamide warran ts further evaluation in children with newly diag nosed malignant glio ma. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.