SYSTEMIC CHEMOTHERAPY FOR A PRIMARY GERM-CELL TUMOR OF THE BRAIN - A PHARMACOKINETIC STUDY

Abstract

The results of pharmacokinetic studies of bleomycin, cisplatin and vinblastine in the CNS of a patient with a primary germ cell tumor of the brain who had received prior radiotherapy was reported. Significant concentrations of bleomycin and cisplatin, but not of vinblastine, were reached in the CSF of the patient following i.v. administration. The area under the bleomycin CSF concentration times time curve was 25% of the area under the bleomycin plasma concentration times time curve. The areas under 2 cisplatin CSF curves were 50% and 155% of the areas under the corresponding free cisplatin plasma curves. An objective response of the tumor to the chemotherapy was documented. Under certain circumstances, significant concentrations of cisplatin and bleomycin may be obtained in human CSF following systemic administration and it may be possible to treat primary or metastatic CNS tumors with agents effective against systemic tumor of the same histologic type.