Combined cyclotron fast-neutron and BCNU therapy in a rat brain-tumor model

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · J. Neurosurg.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3171/jns.1981.54.4.0461· OSTI ID:5841660

Spence, A M; Geraci, J P

The combination of cyclotron fast-neutron radiotherapy with BCNU chemotherapy was compared to 137Cs gamma photon radiotherapy combined with BCNU in the 36B-10, F-344 rat-transplanted glioma model. Radiation and drug treatments were administered 7 to 8 days after intracerebral tumor implantation. Increase in animal survival time was used as the measure of the effectiveness of various treatment schedules. Single-dose neutron or gamma radiotherapy was tested on Day 7 over the ranges 0 to 900 rads and 0 to 2000 rads, respectively. This therapy produced increases in mean survival times up to 70% at the highest radiation doses. When BCNU (10 mg/kg body weight) was administered intravenously, on Day 8, 1 day following radiotherapy, mean survival times were increased by an additional 35% to 50%, irrespective of the dose or type of irradiation. In contrast, by using the same radiation and drug doses but scheduling combined therapy trials so that BCNU was administered 1 hour before either neutron or gamma irradiation on Day 7, there was enhancement of the radiation effect by BCNU. Under these conditions, the maximum enhancement of the mean survival time was 70% to 75% in neutron-treated animals and 120% to 150% in gamma-treated animals. Treatment with BCNU 1 hour before or 1 day after neutron irradiation proved to be no more effective in proving the survival time of tumor-bearing animals than the drug similarly combined with conventional gamma irradiation.

• OSTI ID: 5841660
• Journal Information: J. Neurosurg.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Neurosurg.; (United States) Vol. 54:4; ISSN JONSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550603 -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Therapy-- (1980-)
560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
AMIDES
ANIMALS
BARYONS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BRAIN
CARBONIC ACID DERIVATIVES
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CESIUM 137
CESIUM ISOTOPES
CHEMOTHERAPY
DISEASES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FAST NEUTRONS
FERMIONS
HADRONS
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES
NEUTRONS
NITROSO COMPOUNDS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEI
NUCLEONS
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOLOGY
RADIOSENSITIVITY EFFECTS
RADIOTHERAPY
RATS
RODENTS
SIDE EFFECTS
THERAPY
UREA
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES