VP-16, vincristine and procarbazine with radiation therapy for treatment of malignant brain tumors.

Twelve patients aged 34 to 65 with malignant gliomas were treated with VP-16, Procarbazine, Vincristine and concurrent radiation therapy. There were 9 patients with glioblastoma multiforme and 3 with anaplastic astrocytoma. All patients had a subtotal resection or biopsy as the initial procedure. Six patients (1 anaplastic astrocytoma) have developed progressive disease. Mean time to tumor progression was 46 weeks. This combined modality treatment program was associated with reversible hematologic toxicity which was severe in 2 patients. These data compare favorably to data obtained from similar patients treated with radiation therapy and BCNU.