STMO-04 LOCAL CONVECTION-ENHANCED DELIVERY OF CHEMOTHERAPY AS TREATMENT FOR BRAIN TUMORS

BACKGROUND: Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) of therapeutic agents is a promising local delivery technique that has been extensively studied as a treatment for CNS diseases over the last 2 decades. Applying this technique to treat brain tumors, we have been working to develop novel local chemotherapy against brain tumors. In the meanwhile, clinical trial against diffuse intrinsic brain tumor aiming at Japanese “shonin” approval is recruiting patients. In this study, potential of local CED based chemotherapy against supratentorial brain tumor is discussed. METHODS: Until today, we have evaluated the safety and efficacy of local CED of nimustine hydrochloride against supratentorial malignant glioma patients in the three prospective, single institute, nonrandomized, open-label studies. Among those, one study recruited the recurrent malignant glioma patients whose enhanced tumor can be surgically resected. After the resection of the tumor, CED of ACNU was performed targeting the surrounding brain. Temozolomide was also given for 5 days during this trial. RESULTS: Seven patients; 4 male and 3 female, age 33–71 y.o. (median 54 y.o.), were treated in this study. Five patients suffered glioblastoma and two suffered anaplastic astrocytoma. After the treatment, all seven patients lived longer than a year; one survived three years, one survived four and a half years, and one with glioblastoma is still alive after 5 years. DISCUSSION: Potential efficacy of local chemotherapy delivering nimustine hydrochloride with CED against recurrent malignant glioma was suggested. Further study is required to pave the way for this strategy against supratentorial malignant gliomas.