Cancer
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Combined modality treatment of operated astrocytomas grade 3 and 4. A prospective and randomized study of misonidazole and radiotherapy with two different radiation schedules and subsequent CCNU chemotherapy. Stage II of a prospective multicenter trial of the Scandinavian Glioblastoma Study Group.
A prospective and randomized trial has been performed in order to evaluate combined modality therapy in patients with astrocytomas grade 3 and 4. Follow-up information is available on 244 patients. One half of the series received radiation therapy twice a week (40.00 Gy/5 weeks), the other half five times a week (50.00 Gy/5 weeks). ⋯ The dose of CCNU was 120 mg/m2 body surface every 6 weeks. All eight treatment groups showed practically identical periods of median survival, and no statistically significant differences were observed with regard to performance status, side effects, or complications. Another dosage and timing of misonidazole administration in relation to the irradiation schedule, and a consideration of effects of concomitant drugs like dexamethasone and phenytoin are discussed.