A clinical study with brain brachytherapy for malignant gliomas.

A clinical trial with neutron brachytherapy for malignant glioma is now in progress at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. In the initial three year period, 32 patients entered the study. There were 24 males and eight females, and the peak incidence was seen in the seventh decade. All patients underwent surgical resection of tumor followed by Cf-252 implantation and external radiotherapy. The implantation procedure was well tolerated by the patients and demonstrated a short-term benefit in survival of patients who were able to complete planned radiotherapy. Older patients had less tolerance to radiotherapy. The evaluation of the beneficial effects of Cf-252 brachytherapy will require patients who are able to tolerate the whole course of therapy.