We have used intra-arterial (i.a.) 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) either alone or as part of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with malignant brain tumors over a 3 year period (1979-1982). The i.a. BCNU technique was used 111 times to infuse 134 arteries in 37 patients. These patients, 28 cases with glial tumor and 9 cases with brain metastasis, received i.a. BCNU in combination with Vincristine and Procarbazine every 6 weeks. Complications encountered were transient and included: periorbital erythralgia or occipital-nuchal pain in 23 (62%), mild confusion and disorientation in 14 (38%), and ipsilateral conjunctival edema in 10 (27%). Reversible myelosuppression was not found. Our findings suggest that BCNU (100 mg/M2) may be given by i.a. infusion in combination chemotherapy without persistent severe untoward effects with a cumulative dose of 700 mg/M2.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.