Treatment of malignant recurrent glioma by intra-arterial, infra-ophthalmic infusion of HECNU 1-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitroso-3-(2-hydroxyethyl) urea. A phase II study.

53 patients suffering from malignant recurrent glioma were treated with iterative arterial infusions of HECNU. The intra-carotid injections were performed below the ophthalmic artery. The response rate was 49% and the median survival was 8.5 months. The results differ substantially according to the histological subtype. The response rate was 33% for glioblastomas, 50% for anaplastic astrocytomas and 92% for malignant recurrences of low grade astrocytomas. The median survival was 4.5 months for glioblastomas and 18 months for anaplastic astrocytomas and malignant recurrences of low grade astrocytomas. Serious complications were a monocular blindness in 3 cases and a leucoencephalopathy in 6 cases.