A PHASE-II STUDY OF DIAZIQUONE IN CHILDREN WITH RECURRENT OR PROGRESSIVE PRIMARY BRAIN-TUMORS - A REPORT FROM THE CHILDRENS CANCER STUDY-GROUP

Seventy-five children with recurrent, progressive or metastatic primary brain tumors were treated with aziridinylbenzoquinone (AZQ; Diaziquone) at 9 mg/m2/day by 30-minute intravenous infusion for five days every three weeks. Sixty-six patients were evaluable for response by imaging studies. There were five partial responses and one complete response for a combined response rate of 9%. A complete response lasting for 35 + months occurred in one of twelve patients with metastatic or locally recurrent ependymoma. Objective responses were also seen in patients with primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) (1/8), low-grade glioma (1/6), and primary central nervous system lymphoma (1/1). Stable disease of greater than six months duration was seen in patients with ependymoma, PNET and medulloblastoma. Profound and prolonged myelosuppression was the significant toxicity observed. As administered in this study, AZQ has marginal activity and severe toxicity. © 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers.