A phase II study of
irinotecan (CPT-11) was conducted at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, to evaluate the activity of this agent in children with high-risk malignant
brain tumors. A total of 22 children were enrolled in this study, including 13 with histologically verified recurrent malignant
brain tumors (
glioblastoma multiforme [GBM] 4,
anaplastic astrocytoma 1,
ependymoma 5, and
medulloblastoma/
primitive neuroectodermal tumor 3), 5 with recurrent diffuse pontine
glioma, and 4 with newly diagnosed GBM. All patients with recurrent
tumor had prior
chemotherapy and/or irradiation. Each course of
CPT-11 consisted of 125 mg/m ( 2 ) per week given i.v. for 4 weeks followed by a 2-week rest period. Patients with recurrent
tumors received
therapy until
disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with newly diagnosed
tumors initially received 3 cycles of treatment to assess
tumor response and then were allowed
radiotherapy at physician's choice; patients who demonstrated a response to
CPT-11 prior to
radiotherapy were allowed to continue the
drug after radiation until
disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. A 25% to 50%
dose reduction was made for grade III-IV toxicity. Responses were assessed after every course by
gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the brain and spine. Twenty-two patients received a median of 2 courses of
CPT-11 (range, 1-16). Responses were seen in 4 of 9 patients with GBM or
anaplastic astrocytoma (44%; 95% confidence interval, 11%-82%) (complete response in 2 patients with recurrent GBM lasting 9 months and 48+ months; partial response in one patient with a newly diagnosed midbrain GBM lasting 18 months prior to
radiotherapy; and partial response lasting 11 months in 1 patient with recurrent
anaplastic astrocytoma), 1 of 5 patients with recurrent
ependymoma (partial response initially followed by stable disease lasting 11 months), and none of 5 patients with recurrent diffuse pontine
glioma. Two of 3 patients with
medulloblastoma/
primitive neuroectodermal tumor had stable disease for 9 and 13 months. Toxicity was mainly myelosuppression, with 12 of 22 patients (50%) suffering grade II-IV
neutropenia. Seven patients required
dose reduction secondary to
neutropenia.
CPT-11, given in this schedule, appears to be active in children with
malignant glioma,
medulloblastoma, and
ependymoma with acceptable toxicity. Ongoing studies will demonstrate if activity of
CPT-11 can be enhanced when combined with
alkylating agents, including
carmustine and
temozolomide.