Seminal Articles—CNS and Brain Malignancies

Based on our expert's review, here are the must-read articles for every oncologist about CNS and brain malignancies.

Glioma

Background and Reviews

1. Pignatti F, van den Bent M, Curran D, et al; European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Brain Tumor Cooperative Group; European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Radiotherapy Cooperative Group. Prognostic factors for survival in adult patients with cerebral low-grade glioma. J Clin Oncol. 2002 Apr 15;20(8):2076-2084.

2. Stummer W, Reulen HJ, Meinel T, et al; ALA-Glioma Study Group. Extent of resection and survival in glioblastoma multiforme: identification of and adjustment for bias. Neurosurgery. 2008 Mar;62(3):564-576.

3. Wen PY, Macdonald DR, Reardon DA, et al. Updated response assessment criteria for high-grade gliomas: response assessment in neuro-oncology working group. J Clin Oncol. 2010 Apr 10;28(11):1963-1972.

4. Macdonald DR, Cascino TL, Schold SC Jr, Cairncross JG. Response criteria for phase II studies of supratentorial malignant glioma. J Clin Oncol. 1990 Jul;8(7):1277-1280.

5. Stupp R, Hegi ME, Gilbert MR, Chakravarti A. Chemoradiotherapy in malignant glioma: standard of care and future directions. J Clin Oncol. 2007 Sep 10;25(26):4127-4136.

6. Weller M, Stupp R, Reifenberger G, et al. MGMT promoter methylation in malignant gliomas: ready for personalized medicine? Nat Rev Neurol. 2010 Jan;6(1):39-51.

Radiotherapy

7. Karim AB, Maat B, Hatlevoll R, et al. A randomized trial on dose-response in radiation therapy of low-grade cerebral glioma: European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Study 22844. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1996 Oct 1;36(3):549-556. Elsevier

8. Shaw E, Arusell R, Scheithauer B, et al. Prospective randomized trial of low- versus high-dose radiation therapy in adults with supratentorial low-grade glioma: initial report of a North Central Cancer Treatment Group/Radiation Therapy Oncology Group/Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study. J Clin Oncol. 2002 May 1;20(9):2267-2276.

9. van den Bent MJ, Afra D, de Witte O, et al; EORTC Radiotherapy and Brain Tumor Groups and the UK Medical Research Council. Long-term efficacy of early versus delayed radiotherapy for low-grade astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma in adults: the EORTC 22845 randomised trial. Lancet. 2005 Sep 17-23;366(9490):985-990.

Chemotherapy

PCV

10. Levin VA, Wara WM, Davis RL,et al. Phase III comparison of BCNU and the combination of procarbazine, CCNU, and vincristine administered after radiotherapy with hydroxyurea for malignant gliomas. J Neurosurg. 1985 Aug;63(2):218-223.

11. Cairncross G, Berkey B, Shaw E, et al. Phase III trial of chemotherapy plus radiotherapy compared with radiotherapy alone for pure and mixed anaplastic oligodendroglioma: Intergroup Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Trial 9402. J Clin Oncol. 2006 Jun 20;24(18):2707-2714.

12. van den Bent MJ, Carpentier AF, Brandes AA,et al. Adjuvant procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine improves progression-free survival but not overall survival in newly diagnosed anaplastic oligodendrogliomas and oligoastrocytomas: a randomized European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer phase III trial. J Clin Oncol. 2006 Jun 20;24(18):2715-2722.

Temozolomide

13. Yung WK, Prados MD, Yaya-Tur R,et al. Multicenter phase II trial of temozolomide in patients with anaplastic astrocytoma or anaplastic oligoastrocytoma at first relapse. Temodal Brain Tumor Group. J Clin Oncol. 1999 Sep;17(9):2762-2771.

14. Stupp R, Dietrich PY, Ostermann Kraljevic S, et al. Promising survival for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme treated with concomitant radiation plus temozolomide followed by adjuvant temozolomide. J Clin Oncol. 2002 Mar 1;20(5):1375-1382.

15. Stupp R, Mason WP, van den Bent MJ, et al; European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Brain Tumor and Radiotherapy Groups; National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group. Radiotherapy plus concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide for glioblastoma. N Engl J Med. 2005 Mar 10;352(10):987-996. Free

16. Stupp R, Hegi ME, Mason WP, et al; European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Brain Tumour and Radiation Oncology Groups; National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group. Effects of radiotherapy with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide versus radiotherapy alone on survival in glioblastoma in a randomised phase III study: 5-year analysis of the EORTC-NCIC trial. Lancet Oncol. 2009 May;10(5):459-466. Elsevier

17. Gilbert MR, Wang M, Aldape KD, et al. RTOG 0525: A randomized phase III trial comparing standard adjuvant temozolomide with a dose-dense schedule in newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Presented at: 2011 ASCO Annual Meeting; June 3-7, 2011; Chicago, IL. Abstract 2006. J Clin Oncol. 2011;29(suppl;abstr 2006).

Bevacizumab and Antiangiongenic Agents

18. Vredenburgh JJ, Desjardins A, Herndon JE, et al. Phase II trial of bevacizumab and irinotecan in recurrent malignant glioma. Clin Cancer Res. 2007 Feb 15;13(4):1253-1259. Free

19. Kreisl TN, Kim L, Moore K, et al. Phase II trial of single-agent bevacizumab followed by bevacizumab plus irinotecan at tumor progression in recurrent glioblastoma. J Clin Oncol. 2009 Feb 10;27(5):740-745. Free

20. Friedman HS, Prados MD, Wen PY, et al. Bevacizumab alone and in combination with irinotecan in recurrent glioblastoma. J Clin Oncol. 2009 Oct 1;27(28):4733-4740.

21. Lai A, Tran A, Nghiemphu PL, et al.. Phase II study of bevacizumab plus temozolomide during and after radiation therapy for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme. J Clin Oncol. 2011 Jan 10;29(2):142-148.

22. Wick W, Weller M, van den Bent M, Stupp R. Bevacizumab and recurrent malignant gliomas: a European perspective. J Clin Oncol. 2010 Apr 20;28(12):e188-189; author reply e190-192.

23. Batchelor TT, Sorensen AG, di Tomaso E,et al. AZD2171, a pan-VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, normalizes tumor vasculature and alleviates edema in glioblastoma patients. Cancer Cell. 2007 Jan;11(1):83-95. Free

24. Stupp R, Hegi ME, Neyns B, et al. Phase I/IIa study of cilengitide and temozolomide with concomitant radiotherapy followed by cilengitide and temozolomide maintenance therapy in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. J Clin Oncol. 2010 Jun 1;28(16):2712-2718.

Biology and Molecular Markers

25. Cairncross JG, Ueki K, Zlatescu MC, et al. Specific genetic predictors of chemotherapeutic response and survival in patients with anaplastic oligodendrogliomas. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1998 Oct 7;90(19):1473-1479. Free

26. Jenkins RB, Blair H, Ballman KV, et al. A t(1;19)(q10;p10) mediates the combined deletions of 1p and 19q and predicts a better prognosis of patients with oligodendroglioma. Cancer Res. 2006 Oct 15;66(20):9852-9861. Free

27. Esteller M, Garcia-Foncillas J, Andion E, et al. Inactivation of the DNA-repair gene MGMT and the clinical response of gliomas to alkylating agents. N Engl J Med. 2000 Nov 9;343(19):1350-1354. Erratum in: N Engl J Med 2000 Dec 7;343(23):1740. Free

28. Hegi ME, Diserens AC, Gorlia T,et al. MGMT gene silencing and benefit from temozolomide in glioblastoma. N Engl J Med. 2005 Mar 10;352(10):997-1003. Free

29. Yan H, Parsons DW, Jin G, et al. IDH1 and IDH2 mutations in gliomas. N Engl J Med. 2009 Feb 19;360(8):765-773.

30. Sanson M, Marie Y, Paris S, et al. Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 codon 132 mutation is an important prognostic biomarker in gliomas. J Clin Oncol. 2009 Sep 1;27(25):4150-4154.

Primary CNS Lymphoma

Chemotherapy

31. DeAngelis LM, Seiferheld W, Schold SC, et al. Combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy for primary central nervous system lymphoma: Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Study 93-10. J Clin Oncol. 2002 Dec 15;20(24):4643-4648.

32. Batchelor T, Carson K, O'Neill A, et al: Treatment of primary CNS lymphoma with methotrexate and deferred radiotherapy: a report of NABTT 96-07. J Clin Oncol. 2003 March 15;21(6):1044-1049.

33. Hoang-Xuan K, Taillandier L, Chinot O, et al: Chemotherapy alone as initial treatment for primary CNS lymphoma in patients older than 60 years: a multicenter phase II study (26952) of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Brain Tumor Group. J Clin Oncol. 2003 July 15;21(14):2726-2731.

34. Abrey LE, Moskowitz CH, Mason WP, et al: Intensive methotrexate and cytarabine followed by high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem-cell rescue in patients with newly diagnosed primary CNS lymphoma: an intent-to-treat analysis. J Clin Oncol. 2003 Nov15;21(22):4151-4156.

35. Poortmans PM, Kluin-Nelemans HC, Haaxma-Reiche H, et al: High-dose methotrexate-based chemotherapy followed by consolidating radiotherapy in non-AIDS-related primary central nervous system lymphoma: European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Lymphoma Group Phase II Trial 20962. J Clin Oncol. 2003 Dec 15;21(24):4483-4488.

36. Pels H, Schmidt-Wolf IG, Glasmacher A, et al. Primary central nervous system lymphoma: results of a pilot and phase II study of systemic and intraventricular chemotherapy with deferred radiotherapy. J Clin Oncol. 2003 Dec 15;21(24):4489-4495.

37. Ferreri AJ, Dell'Oro S, Foppoli M, et al: MATILDE regimen followed by radiotherapy is an active strategy against primary CNS lymphomas. Neurology. 2006 May 9;66(9):1435-1438.

38. Shah GD, Yahalom J, Correa DD, et al: Combined immunochemotherapy with reduced whole-brain radiotherapy for newly diagnosed primary CNS lymphoma. J Clin Oncol. 2007 Oct 20;25(30):4730-4735.

39. Ferreri AJ, Reni M, Foppoli M, et al; International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group (IELSG). High-dose cytarabine plus high-dose methotrexate versus high-dose methotrexate alone in patients with primary CNS lymphoma: a randomised phase 2 trial. Lancet. 2009 Oct 31;374(9700):1512-1520. Elsevier

40. Thiel E, Korfel A, Martus P, et al. High-dose methotrexate with or without whole brain radiotherapy for primary CNS lymphoma (G-PCNSL-SG-1): a phase 3, randomised, non-inferiority trial. Lancet Oncol. 2010 Nov;11(11):1036-1047. Elsevier

Stem Cell Transplant

41. Cheng T, Forsyth P, Chaudhry A, et al: High-dose thiotepa, busulfan, cyclophosphamide and ASCT without whole-brain radiotherapy for poor prognosis primary CNS lymphoma. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2003;31:679-685.

42. Brevet M, Garidi R, Gruson B, et al: First-line autologous stem cell transplantation in primary CNS lymphoma. Eur J Haematol. 2005 Oct;75(4):288-292.

43. Colombat P, Lemevel A, Bertrand P, et al: High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation as first-line therapy for primary CNS lymphoma in patients younger than 60 years: a multicenter phase II study of the GOELAMS group. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2006;38:417-420.

44. Illerhaus G, Marks R, Ihorst G, et al: High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem-cell transplantation and hyperfractionated radiotherapy as first-line treatment of primary CNS lymphoma. J Clin Oncol. 2006 Aug 20;24(24):3865-3870.

45. Montemurro M, Kiefer T, Schuler F, et al: Primary central nervous system lymphoma treated with high-dose methotrexate, high-dose busulfan/thiotepa, autologous stem-cell transplantation and response-adapted whole-brain radiotherapy: results of the multicenter Ostdeutsche Studiengruppe Hamato-Onkologie OSHO-53 phase II study. Ann Oncol. 2007 Apr 4;18(4):665-671. Free

46. Illerhaus G, Muller F, Feuerhake F, et al: High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem-cell transplantation without consolidating radiotherapy as first-line treatment for primary lymphoma of the central nervous system. Haematologica. 2008 Jan 1;93(1):147-148. Free

47. Soussain C, Hoang-Xuan K, Taillandier L, et al: Intensive chemotherapy followed by hematopoietic stem-cell rescue for refractory and recurrent primary CNS and intraocular lymphoma: Societe Francaise de Greffe de Moelle Osseuse-Therapie Cellulaire. J Clin Oncol. 2008 May 20;26(15):2512-2518.

Radiotherapy

48. Nguyen PL, Chakravarti A, Finkelstein DM, et al: Results of whole-brain radiation as salvage of methotrexate failure for immunocompetent patients with primary CNS lymphoma. J Clin Oncol. 2005 March 1;23(7):1507-1513.

49. Hottinger AF, DeAngelis LM, Yahalom J, et al: Salvage whole brain radiotherapy for recurrent or refractory primary CNS lymphoma. Neurology. 2007 Sept 11;69(11):1178-1182.