Background: Surgical resection followed by radiotherapy used to be the standard treatment in malignant gliomas. Recently, temozolomide has become a cornerstone in the treatment of these patients. We evaluated retrospectively the efficacy and the toxicity of temozolomide which was ad-ministered concomitantly with radiotherapy, and thereafter as consolidation treatment. Patients and Methods: Medical records of 64 patients with malignant glioma were reviewed. Postoperatively, temozolomide was given at a dose of 75 mg/m2/day concomitantly with cranial radiotherapy. After 4 weeks of rest, patients were treated with temozolomide 200 mg/m2 on days 1–5 every 28 days for 6 cycles. Results: 62 patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. Objective response rate was 38.7% including 7 (11.3%) complete responses, and 17 (27.4%) partial responses. Median progression-free survival, and overall survival have not yet been reached in the grade III astrocytoma group at a median follow-up of 19 months. In the glioblastoma multiforme group, median progression-free survival, and median overall survival were 10 and 19 months, respectively. 2-year survival rates were 80% and 19% for the grade III astrocytoma, and for the glioblastoma multiforme groups, respectively. Toxicity was mild to moderate with rare grade 4 toxicities. Conclusion: Our data suggest that temozolomide is an active regimen for malignant gliomas. It was more effective in younger patients with better performance status.

Keywords:
Glioma, malignant, Radiotherapy, Temozolomide, Dexamethasone, Survival: overall, progression-free
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© 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel
2008
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