Experimental Treatment at UCLA Attempts to Combat Recurrent Benign Brain Tumors with Chemotherapy

For Immediate Use March 23, 1998

Roxanne Yamaguchi Moster
([email protected])
(310) 206-1960

EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENT AT UCLA ATTEMPTS TO COMBAT RECURRENT BENIGN BRAIN TUMORS WITH CHEMOTHERAPY

Benign, non-cancerous brain tumors, called meningiomas, can impair brain function and even kill. So UCLA medical researchers have begun testing a new form of chemotherapy to treat them.

These benign tumors became better known after Elizabeth Taylor had hers surgically removed. But many of these non-cancerous tumors continue to grow even after traditional surgery and radiation treatments fail.

"For patients who have exhausted traditional forms of therapy, an effective and non-toxic chemotherapy would be a welcome alternative," said Dr. Gregory Rubino, UCLA neurosurgeon and the study's principal investigator.

Once surgeons remove benign brain tumors, they often grow back. And, because of their location, some tumors cannot be surgically removed and may continue to grow after radiation treatment.

UCLA researchers will soon begin experimental trials with an oral chemotherapy method called hydroxyurea, used in the United States for the past 30 years to treat blood-related cancers. To date, four patients in Germany have participated in this experimental treatment, and three of the patients experienced successful shrinkage in the size of their tumors.

To be eligible for treatment with hydroxyurea, patients must have recurrent meningiomas that have progressed despite standard treatment and have shown growth on CT or MRI scans.

Volunteers will take a daily dose of hydroxyurea pills, and the length of treatment will be determined based on whether the tumor responds to the drug treatment. Follow-up medical examinations will be performed to determine the effectiveness of therapy and for any possible side effects.

If the subject experiences side effects, the dosage may be adjusted or the drug discontinued depending on the severity of the side effect. If the subject suffers no serious side effects, and if the hydroxyurea treatment either stops tumor growth or causes tumor shrinkage, the drug will be continued up to 24 months. The need to continue will be assessed at 12 and 18 months from the start of treatment. In dosages given for meningioma treatment, side effects include fatigue, constipation, bleeding gums, and mild decreases in white blood cell counts.

Hydroxyurea treatments at UCLA are part of a first phase study of the drug. The purpose of the study is to establish safety and proper dose size and to learn side effects of the treatment.

Patients will be followed for tumor growth for approximately 10 years after completing treatment, to determine if the tumor grows after drug treatment has stopped.

For more information, call Dr. Gregory J. Rubino, UCLA Division of Neurosurgery at (310) 794-1222 or Dr. Fairooz Kabbinavar, UCLA Department of Medical Oncology at (310) 794-1648.

-UCLA-