Treatment of brain giomas with high dose of CCNU and autologous bone marrow transplantation.

Seven patients with recurrent brain gliomas were treated by a single dose of CCNU 390 mg per m2. In five cases, chemotherapy was followed by autologous bone marrow transfusion containing 1.5 to 3 X 10(8) nucleated cells, 2.8 to 18 X 10(4) clusters plus colonies and 0.4 to 5 X 10(4) colonies forming cells per kg of body weight. Two patients were not grafted. None of these patients showed a clear cut response to the treatment as judged by clinical improvement and changes of the brain CT-scan. In 3 patients blood toxicity occurred early and was severe. In 4 others, it was milder and delayed. The duration and the severity of blood toxicity were modified by bone marrow transfusion but only slightly.