Hyperfractionated radiotherapy and polychemotherapy in brain stem tumors in children

Between October 1989 and Junuary 1991 five children with brain stem tumors were treated with sequential chemo- and radiotherapy. The polychemotherapy consisted of procarbazine, ifosfamide, etoposide, methotrexate, cisplatin and cytosine arabinoside. Locally, hyperfractionated radiotherapy was delivered at a total dose of 63.8 Gy (1.1 Gy twice daily, 10 fractions per week). After a median observation time of 11.8 (range 4–23) months from diagnosis three children are alive and without evidence of tumor progression. Two patients died from tumor progression 11 and 16 months respectively after initiation of therapy.