Outcome for children with medulloblastoma treated with radiation and cisplatin, CCNU, and vincristine chemotherapy

Abstract

✓ It has previously been reported in a single-institution trial that progression-free survival of children with medulloblastoma treated with radiotherapy and 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU), cisplatin, and vincristine chemotherapy during and after radiotherapy was better than the outcome in children treated with radiotherapy alone. To better characterize long-term outcome and duration of disease control, this treatment approach was used for 10 years and expanded to three institutions. Sixty-three children with posterior fossa medulloblastomas were treated with craniospinal local-boost radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy with vincristine weekly during radiotherapy followed by eight 6-week cycles of cisplatin, CCNU, and vincristine. To be eligible for study entry, patients had to be older than 18 months of age at diagnosis and have a subtotal resection, evidence of metastatic disease, and/or brainstem involvement. Patients younger than 5 years of age and without these poor risk factor...