Chemotherapy for Oligodendroglioma

Six years ago, we began to notice that recurrent oligodendrogliomas, tumors that had regrown after one or more surgeries and radiotherapy, responded to chemotherapy. These tumors were clinically aggressive, contrast-enhancing, histologically anaplastic, and relatively pure. We concluded, after eight consecutive responses (see reference 1 for response criteria), 1 that anaplastic oligodendroglioma was a chemosensitive tumor. 2 In this article, we review our experience with chemotherapy for this uncommon brain tumor. Table 1 summarizes the results of treatment for first recurrence. We have treated 10 patients, all have responded; two completely and eight partially. Patient 1 responded to carmustine (BCNU), patient 4 to diaziquone (AZQ), the others to a drug combination (PCV) that included procarbazine, lomustine (CCNU), and vincristine. 3 (Patient 5 failed to respond to fludarabine, patient 8 to diaziquone; both responded to PCV.) The median duration of response is 15 months (range, 8 to 36 months). All patients have