Chemotherapy for progressive pilocytic astrocytomas in the chiasmo-hypothalamic regions
Abstract
Over the past 25 years, we have treated 17 patients with chiasmo-hypothalamic astrocytomas. Before 1988, the initial treatments consisted of surgery and/or radiotherapy, while since 1989, 4 children (1 male, 3 females, aged 3-8 years) were treated primarily with chemotherapy. None of them was associated with neurofibromatosis. After a biopsy of the tumor, the intravenous administration of ranimustine (MCNU; 30-86 mg/m2) and/or nimustine (ACNU; 30.3-64.1 mg/m2) was given without radiation therapy. Chemotherapy was usually given as an out-patient, with a total of 5-13 courses. The total doses of MCNU and ACNU administered ranged from 150 to 570 mg and from 64.8 mg to 100 mg, respectively. After chemotherapy 2 patients showed clinical improvement and tumor regression on neuro-imaging, while one patient showed clinical improvement and tumor size stabilization on neuro-imaging. The remaining one child, however, showed a clinical worsening and tumor progression on neuro-imaging studies. He was thus treated with a second chemotherapy regimen with carboplatin and etoposide, which brought about tumor regression. The acute and subacute toxicity of chemotherapy was mild. All patients are now leading almost normal lives with a median of 43...Continue Reading
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