Treatment of malignant brain tumours with ACNU and phenobarbital: continuous infusion of ACNU into internal carotid artery and systemic administration of phenobarbital.

Thirteen patients with malignant brain tumours were treated by continuous intra-carotid infusion of ACNU in combination with systemic administration of phenobarbital. This aimed to maintain an ACNU concentration around the tumour cells higher for a relatively longer period and to make an ACNU concentration in the systemic circulation lower. Improvements on clinical states and CT findings were observed in 10 patients. The protective effect of phenobarbital against bone marrow suppression by ACNU was also suggested in this study. No complications were experienced in this treatment. This results strongly suggested that this technique is useful to treat patients with malignant brain tumours.