Response to chemotherapy of a radiation-induced glioblastoma multiforme

Abstract

Radiation-induced glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is particularly resistant to treatment and therapeutic options are limited. We report a patient with a radiation-induced GBM who had a complete response to carmustine and survived for 44 months. Case report of a 38-year-old man with a radiation-induced GBM that responded to carmustine. Our patient developed a left occipital GBM 35 years after a left cerebellar astrocytoma was treated with surgery and radiation therapy (4500 rad). The GBM was treated with subtotal resection followed by four cycles of carmustine; a complete response was achieved. He relapsed 34 months after diagnosis and with further surgery survived 44 months from his diagnosis of GBM. GBMs may be a late complication of radiation treatment for pediatric brain tumors. If further radiotherapy is not a therapeutic option, chemotherapy may result in prolonged survival.