OBJECTIVE

To describe the results of the treatment of recurrent glioma with temozolomide.

DESIGN

Retrospective.

METHOD

This study evaluated 77 patients with a recurrent high-grade glioma who from August 1997-December 2003 were treated with temozolomide (150-200 mg/m2/day for 5 days per 28-day cycle) following surgery and radiotherapy at the Daniel den Hoed Oncology Centre of the Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The patients were divided into 4 groups depending on histology and chemotherapy history.

RESULTS

15 patients received temozolomide for a recurrent anaplastic oligodendroglioma or mixed oligo-astrocytoma. The response in this group was 80% and after 12 months in 47% of the patients there was no disease progression. 35 patients underwent second-line chemotherapy with temozolomide after earlier chemotherapy with procarbazine, lomustine and vincristine for recurrent anaplastic oligodendroglioma or mixed oligo-astrocytoma. Response was 26% and after 12 months in 15% of patients there was still no disease progression. 14 patients were treated with temozolomide for a recurrent anaplastic astrocytoma with a response of 35% and after 12 months in 8% of these patients there was no disease progression. Of the 13 patients with a recurrent glioblastoma who were treated with temozolomide 16% responded and after 6 and 12 months 21% were still free from progression. Temozolomide was well-tolerated: 2 patients had to stop because of probable side effects. CONCLUSION. Temozolomide has an acceptable safety profile and may be regarded as the preferred treatment for recurrent anaplastic gliomas after radiotherapy. There is only a limited role for temozolomide in the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma.