High dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue in adults with malignant primary brain tumors

High dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with autologous (bone marrow or peripheral bl ood) stem cell rescue (ASCR) has had success in the treatment of some malig nant pediatric brain tumors. We report a series of adults enrolled in one o f three HDCT and ASCR protocols for malignant primary brain tumors. Overall toxic mortality was 18%; chemotherapy regimen, tumor type, and prio r treatment did not predict transplant-related mortality. Patients over the age of 30 had a higher rate of toxic mortality. Patients with recurrent me dulloblastoma had a significant improvement in long-term survival (median: 34 months) as compared with historical reports; two patients with glioblast oma survive beyond four years without progression, but overall, a significa nt improvement in long-term survival could not be demonstrated for malignan t gliomas.