Microspheres Deliver 5-FU To Inoperable Brain Tumors

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Stereotaxic implantation of biodegradable microspheres is a feasible method of delivering the radiosensitizer 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) to the site of inoperable brain tumors, French researchers report in the January 15th issue of Cancer.

Dr. Philippe Menei of CHU d'Angers and colleagues note that in previous work they evaluated the approach in patients who had had surgical resection of malignant gliomas.

The encouraging results led them to evaluate the method in a phase I trial of 10 patients who had newly diagnosed deeply situated inoperable malignant gliomas.

A total volume of 2.5 mL of sustained-release microsphere suspension (132 mg of 5- FU) was injected into the tumor. Depending on tumor size and shape, this was delivered along one or more trajectories and in one or more deposits, using a 1 mL syringe. The patients then underwent radiotherapy.

The implantation was tolerated well, according to the researchers. However, four patients who received a single trajectory experienced a transient worsening of pre-existing neurological symptoms.

The investigators note that in general, regardless of the method of treatment, patients with malignant glioma have a median survival of less than a year. In the study group, the median overall survival was 40 weeks.

Furthermore, one patient survived for 71 weeks and another for 89 weeks. Both of these patients had glioblastomas and did not receive any second-line therapy.

Given these findings, the researchers conclude that delivery of such drug-releasing microspheres "is a promising approach for the treatment of patients with inoperable brain tumors."

Source: Cancer 2004;100:405-410. [ Google search on this article ]

MeSH Headings: Antineoplastic Agents, Combined