This study revealed a good QL in patients treated with breast conservation and postoperative irradiation, with a preserved favourable body image and a lack of negative impact on sexuality. Radiation therapy did not lead to any significant additional problems capable of affecting the QL.

METHODS. Fifty-six RESULTS. All 56 patients were evaluated for time to progression (TTP) and median survival time (MST). The TTP was 7.5 months and the MST was 12.5 months. 2 Department of Radiotherapy, Azienda OspedaToxicity manifested as thrombocytopenia and in most cases was acceptable. Four liera, Padova, Italy. patients (7.1%) had radiation necrosis at 2, 2, 7, and 9 months, respectively, from 3 Department of Neurosurgery, Azienda Ospedathe end of radiotherapy. liera, Padova, Italy. CONCLUSIONS.The results obtained in the current study with concurrent radioche-4 Department of Neurological Sciences, Azienda motherapy in patients with glioblastoma are comparable to the best results reOspedaliera, Padova, Italy. ported using radiotherapy alone followed by chemotherapy with nitrosoureas. and chemotherapy has done little to improve on these results.

No abstract

A Phase II study with a combination of BCNU and alpha-interferon (IFN) was conducted in patients with high-grade glioma recurrent after surgery and radiation treatment in order to investigate tumor control and toxicity. Twenty-one non-chemotherapy pretreated patients were administered 6 MU alpha-IFN in a 2-h infusion followed by 150 mg/m2 BCNU i.v. on day 1. Three MU alpha-IFN were subsequently administered subcutaneously on alternating days three times a week, until recycling of the whole procedure on day 42. Among 21 patients, partial remission was obtained in 7 (33%; 95% CI = 15-57) and stable disease in 6 (29%; CI = 11-52); overall Kaplan-Meier median time to progression (TTP) was 4.5 months (CI = 4-9) and the overall median survival time (MST) was 7 months (CI = 5-13). In patients who underwent surgical redebulking prior to chemotherapy, TTP and MST were 9 (CI = 7-14) and 15 months (CI = 11.0-39.0); in patients who were not operated on again before chemotherapy, these values were 4 (CI = 2-5; log rank test, p = 0.0026) and 5.5 months (CI = 4-7; log rank test, p = 0.0012) respectively. The results of this regimen in relapsing patients, especially following surgical redebulking, are encouraging; toxicity is acceptable, and further studies on combined alpha-IFN and multiple-agent chemotherapy are warranted.