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Chemotherapy administered in conjunction with osmotic blood-brain barrier modification in patients with brain metastases

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Abstract

Clinical experience in seven patients with systemic malignancies (breast, lung and testicular) metastatic to the central nervous system treated with chemotherapy given in association with reversible osmotic blood-brain barrier modification is reviewed. A combination chemotherapy regimen including intra-arterial methotrexate, intravenous cytoxan and oral procarbazine in conjunction with intra-arterial mannitol infusions was successfully carried out with minimal toxicity. The results in these patients demonstrate some therapeutic efficacy to the increased drug delivery achieved with this technique. Although suggestive, additional studies will be required to confirm that barrier modification is a key parameter in such efficacy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, The Oregon Health Sciences University, 97201, Portland, OR, USA

    Edward A Neuwelt & Suellen A Dahlborg

  2. Division of Neurosurgery - L472, The Oregon Health Sciences University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, 97201, Portland, OR, USA

    Edward A Neuwelt

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  1. Edward A Neuwelt
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  2. Suellen A Dahlborg
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Neuwelt, E.A., Dahlborg, S.A. Chemotherapy administered in conjunction with osmotic blood-brain barrier modification in patients with brain metastases. J Neuro-Oncol 4, 195–207 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00150611

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