Dianhydrogalactitol and Radiation Therapy: Treatment of Supratentorial Glioma

Dianhydrogalactitol was the most active of 177 agents tested against a mouse ependymoblastoma tumor. We conducted a prospectively randonized trial comparing whole-brain irradiation alone vs identical irradiation plus dianhydrogalactitol in 42 patients with grade 3 and 4 supratentorial astrocytomas. Patients receiving dianhydrogalactitol in addition to irradiation had a significantly longer median survival time (67 vs 35 weeks) than did patients receiving only irradiation. The major toxic effect of dianhydrogalactitol is hematologic suppression of a cumulative nature. Dianhydrogalactitol may play an important role (in conjunction with radiation therapy) in the initial treatment of patients with supratentorial glioma. Our data may indicate that the mouse ependymoblastoma system is a useful screen for agents to be used in the treatment of human glioma. ( JAMA 241:2046-2050, 1979)