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Combination chemotherapy in recurrent medulloblastoma
Author(s) -
Duffner Patricia K.,
Cohen Michael E.,
Thomas P. R. M.,
Sinks Lucius F.,
Freeman Arnold I.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197901)43:1<41::aid-cncr2820430105>3.0.co;2-u
Subject(s) - medicine , chemotherapy , vincristine , medulloblastoma , radiation therapy , methotrexate , asymptomatic , dexamethasone , surgery , cyclophosphamide , pathology
Five children with recurrent medulloblastomas were treated with Vincristine, BCNU, Methotrexate and Dexamethasone. All five patients responded to therapy. Two of the patients are alive and well 30 and 48 months later; one died of disease 19 months after first recurrence; one developed a further recurrence at 18 months but responded to additional chemotherapy and is alive; and the fifth patient developed a second recurrence after 28 months but has responded to repeat chemotherapy and radiotherapy and is now asymptomatic. These results support the concept that medulloblastomas are sensitive to chemotherapy and suggest that chemotherapy should be considered in cases of recurrent medulloblastomas. In addition, the importance of trials now in progress which employ both adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy in newly diagnosed medulloblastomas is apparent.