Intratumoral beta interferon and systemic chemotherapy. Preliminary data in GBM patients.

Doses and schedules for treatment of malignant glial tumors, using IFN are still uncertain and controversial. In this study preliminary results of treatment of 10 glioblastoma multiforme patients are shown. Six patients were treated with local injection of beta-IFN through an Ommaya reservoir: 4 with beta-IFN followed by systemic chemotherapy (CDDP-VP16); we found that IFN alone was ineffective. Results were improved when local immunotherapy was associated with systemic chemotherapy. New drugs and investigation of possible pharmacological synergism are needed.