Long-term survivors of high-grade malignant astrocytomas.

This report descibes our experience with 40 evaluable patients with high-grade malignant astrocytomas. Eleven patients were treated with surgery and radiotherapy; 29 patients were treated with surgery, radiotherapy, and BCNU chemotherapy. Ten of these 29 patients are two-year survivors. Their mean survival is over 57.3 months, and they have been off chemotherapy for one to 27 months, mean 13.7 months. Seven of these patients received 800 to 1,100 mg/m2 of BCNU; three other long survivors received greater amounts of BCNU. Our current recommendation is that patients with high-grade malignant astrocytomas be treated with surgery, radiotherapy, and at least 800 mg/m2 of BCNU.