Adjuvant chemotherapy with intraventricular methotrexate and CCNU after surgery and radiotherapy of medulloblastomas.

Seven patients were treated with a combination of intraventricular methotrexate (MTX) and oral CCNU after resection and whole CNS irradiation of medulloblastomas. 3 patients survived 3 or more years after the operation which is not different from reported series with postoperative radiotherapy only. Adjuvant chemotherapy is experimental and should be employed only in controlled studies. The inadequate bone marrow reserve after previous spinal irradiation is a major problem. Because of its delayed and unpredictable myelotoxicity, CCNU is in our experience not a suitable substance for adjuvant combination chemotherapy of medulloblastomas. No complication was observed with 81 intraventricular injections of MTX. It is a good agent and deserves further clinical trials in less myelotoxic combinations.