Fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery and concurrent taxol in recurrent glioblastoma multiforme: A preliminary report

Purpose: Surgery and systemic chemotherapy offer modest benefit to patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. These tumors are associated with rapid growth and progressive neurological deterioration, Radiosurgery offers a rational alternative treatment, delivering intensive local therapy, A pilot protocol to treat recurrent glioblastoma was developed using fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery with concurrent intravenous (i.v.) Taxol as a radiation sensitizer, Methods and Materials: The treatment outcome was analyzed in 14 patients with recurrent glioblastoma treated with fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery and concurrent Taxol. Median tumor volume was 15.7 cc and patients received a mean radiation dose of 6.2 Gy at 90 % isosdose line, 4 times weekly, The median dose of Taxol was 120 mg/m(2). Results: The median survival was 14.2 months, 1-year survival was 50 %. Conclusions: Survival for this small group of patients was similar to or better than historical controls or patients treated with single-fraction radiosurgery alone, This data should stimulate the investigation of both fractionated radiosurgery and the development of radiation sensitizers to further enhance treatment. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.