Continuous infusions of carmustine do not improve survival in patients with high grade astrocytoma

The median survival time for patients with high grade astrocytoma is less than a year. Recent studies have suggested continuous infusions of carmustine and cisplatin or carboplatin may increase response rates.This phase III study Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-South Western Oncology intergroup study included patients with newly diagnosed supratentorial glioblastoma multiforme. Treatment compared standard adjuvant carmustine chemotherapy with concurrent external beam radiotherapy (Arm A, n=109) to 72 hours infusionional pre-radiotherapy carmustine and cisplatin (Arm B, n=110) The primary aim was to compare survival and time to progression as well as the proportion of patients who survived one year, and toxicity....