Activity of irofulven (6-hydroxymethylacylfulvene) in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme-derived xenografts in athymic mice

Purpose: This study was conducted to define the activity of irofulven in th e treatment of a series of xenografts derived from human glioblastoma multi forme growing subcutaneously and intracranially in athymic nude mice. Metho ds: Athymic mice bearing subcutaneous or intracranial tumors were treated w ith irofulven at a 10% lethal dose with responses compared to tumor-bearing mice treated with drug vehicle. Results: Irofulven was active against all tumor lines tested with growth delays ranging from 5.6 to 81.6 days (all va lues statistically significant, P less than or equal to 0.001). Irofulven a lso produced a statistically significant (P less than or equal to 0.001) in crease in the median survival Of mice bearing D-456 intracranial xenografts with a 162% increase in median survival. Conclusions: Irofulven is active in a spectrum of human glioblastoma multiforme-derived xenografts and evalu ation in patients with this neoplasm is warranted.