Misonidazole in radiotherapy of supratentorial malignant brain gliomas in adult patients: a randomized double-blind study.

The effect of misonidazole on the duration of the free interval (time to recurrence) and total survival of adults bearing malignant supratentorial brain gliomas was measured in a randomized double-blind study. Radiotherapy consisted of 9 X 3.5 Gy fractions given on alternate days during 3 weeks followed by 6 X 3-Gy fractions delivered in 2 weeks. Misonidazole, 1.3 g/m2, administrated 4 hr before the 9 first irradiations to 82 patients, had no effect on the duration of the free interval or total survival compared with 81 controls. The two groups were comparable in respect to the main prognostic factors: median age, performance status or tumour location. The overall tolerance of misonidazole was good.