Novel chemotherapeutic approaches to brain tumors.

In reviewing the numerous investigational drug trials for patients with anaplastic gliomas over the past 20 years, it would be fair to say that there have been more than a few disappointments and that the real impact of many of these therapies on patients' duration and quality of survival has been minor at best. It is also fair to state that there has been progress in developing new types of chemotherapy and other agents, in devising new treatment strategies, and in gaining a deeper understanding of the problems that must be overcome to treat patients with anaplastic gliomas successfully. The past several years have seen the realization that oligodendroglioma, primary CNS lymphoma, and medulloblastoma are sensitive to chemotherapy treatments. It is hoped that future studies will delineate better the optimal use of chemotherapy for these tumors.