TREATMENT OF ADULTS WITH PROGRESSIVE OLIGODENDROGLIOMA WITH CARBOPLATIN (CBDCA) - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS

Background. Exploration of the role of chemotherapy in the treatment o f low grade glioma, including oligodendroglioma, has been limited to t he pediatric population, reflecting the sensitivity of young patients to radiation-induced toxicity and a desire to avoid this intervention (7-12). Procedure. Nine adults with progressive oligodendroglioma were treated with carboplatin at a dose of 560 mg/m(2) administered at 4 w eek intervals. Results. Eight patients have demonstrated stable diseas e as determined by serial MRI imaging at 2-3 month intervals with neit her tumor regression nor growth noted. The ongoing duration of tumor c ontrol ranges between 6-22 months. Three patients have completed thera py with carboplatin and continue with stable die-ease off chemotherapy . One patient progressed after 1 year of therapy with histologic confi rmation of growth of well differentiated oligodendroglioma. Toxicity w as limited to grade 3 thrombocytopenia in 3 patients and grade 3 neutr openia in 2 patients. Conclusions. Carboplatin appears to be active in the treatment of adults with progressive oligodendroglioma. Further t rials are warranted to more precisely define the role oi carboplatin i n the treatment of these tumors. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.