Pittsburgh, February 27, 2001 -- UPMC clinical researchers at the Brain Tumor Center are investigating the combination of two chemotherapy medicines, temozolomide and irinotecan, for the treatment of malignant gliomas.

Malignant gliomas (glioblastomas, anaplastic astrocytomas, and anaplastic oligodendrogliomas) are the most common form of primary brain cancer. First-line treatment usually includes radiation; however, these tumors almost always recur.

Temozolomide was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in recurrent anaplastic astrocytomas, while irinotecan was recently approved for use in colorectal cancer but has also demonstrated antitumor activity against malignant gliomas.

This clinical trial, under the auspices of the North American Brain Tumor Consortium and the National Cancer Institute, will utilize these medications together to establish the effectiveness and side effect profile of this combination.

For more information, please contact the study principal investigator David Schiff, MD at (412) 692-2600 or research coordinator Mark Wargo, RN at (412) 647-5369.