The incidence of central nervous system neoplasias ranges from 3.8 to 5.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. First-line treatment of brain tumors consists of surgery associated with radiotherapy, and followed or not by chemotherapy. When used as an adjuvant therapy after surgery and radiotherapy, chemotherapy prolongs the time to progression and the median survival time. At relapse, chemotherapy is the common therapeutic approach. In recent years, new drugs for the treatment of brain tumors have been tested, and some of them, such as temozolomide, are very promising.
Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.