Abstract:
Objective : To investigate the effect of Elemene combined with radiotherapy for brain glioma.
Methods : From January 2002 to December 2004, 32 patients with brain glioma who had residual tumor after surgery and received Elemene combined with radiotherapy were retrospectively reviewed. These patients received a dose of 50-56Gy/25-28F/5-6 weeks by 6MV-X ray, 1f/d, 5 times a week. Concurrent with radiotherapy, Elemene was administered at 600mg/d intravenously (via subclavical vein). The control group (28 cases) were treated with radiotherapy alone.
Results : In the Elemene plus radiotherapy group, 4 cases achieved complete response (CR), 21 cases had partial response (PR). The total response rate (CR+PR) was 78.1%. While in the control group, 2 cases had CR, 12 cases had PR, and the total response rate (CR+PR) was 50.0% (
P < 0.05). The 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 81.0 %, 57.8%, and 34.0% in the Elemene plus radiotherapy group and 63.6 %, 26.2%, and 18.7% in the control group. The side effect of Elemene was fever, and the side effect of radiotherapy were similar in both groups.
Conclusion : Elemene combined with radiotherapy is effective for brain glioma and can achieve a longer survival time, without increasing the side effects of radiotherapy.