BCNU (NSC-409962) and procarbazine (NSC-77213) treatment for malignant brain tumors.

Sixty-five patients with malignant brain tumors were treated with a combination of BCNU (100 mg/m2 qd X 1) and procarbazine (100 mg/m2 qd X 14); the cycle was repeated in 1 month and then on a 6-week schedule with procarbazine being given for 21 days. Forty-five patients had malignant gliomas (glioblastoma multiforme, anaplastic astrocytoma, malignant glioma, or gemistocytic astrocytoma) and were evaluated as a group. All patients had either shown evidence of tumor regrowth after previous surgery and/or radiotherapy, or had deep unbiopsied tumors presumed to be malignant gliomas. Of these 45 patients, 13 of 45 (30%) were judged to be unequivocal responders and an additional eight of 45 (17%) were designated as probable responders. The median duration of clinical response was 34 weeks for responders and 20 weeks for probable responders. The combination of BCNU and procarbazine, therefore, was somewhat inferior to a previous combination of procarbazine, CCNU, and vincristine.