Chemotherapy in Malignant Gliomas

ABSTRACT

-Current chemotherapy approaches to patients with malignant gliomas have little impact on patient outcomes. Surgical and radiotherapy, although providing the majority of benefit, have little potential for significant further improvement of patient survival. Medical therapy, especially with expanding knowledge relative to tumor resistance, oncogenesis pathways, and angiogenesis, has great potential for altering the outcomes of patients with malignant gliomas. New cytotoxic agents such as temozolomide and CPT-11 appear to have significant activity; however, anti-angiogenesis therapy, gene therapies directed at oncogenic pathways, and immuno-toxin constructs may have the greatest potential. Only by participation in clinical trials can these new agents be developed to benefit future patients with malignant gliomas.

KEYWORD

Chemotherapy - malignant gliomas - drug therapy development