Meningiomas, glioblastomas and astrocytomas constitute over half of all central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Glioblastoma multiforme is a highly malignant astrocytic tumor that accounts for 80% of all the malignant gliomas. It is a neoplasm occurring mainly in adult age with peak incidence in individuals between 60 and 70 years of age, with prevalence in males [1]. Malignant gliomas display an invasive phenotype with the tendency for locoregional spread. By following the joints and nerve fiber sheaths they can extend to the encephalon, invade the basal nuclei, the internal capsule and, through the corpus callosus, the controlateral hemisphere. For this reason it is difficult to cure these tumors [2]. The great abundance of newly formed vessels within the tumor is responsible for the frequent occurrence of intratumoral hemorrhage and of the presence of vast areas of necrosis secondary to vascular thrombosis. With extremely rare exceptions, these tumors do not spread outside the CNS, however, their unfavorable evolution depends on the effect of the intracranial mass which gradually increases intracranial

pressure, causing compression syndromes, coma and death.

The treatment program is multidisciplinary [3]: surgical resection is the first step, followed by radiotherapy in the tumor invasion area. Adjuvant chemotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ) after radical surgery and radio-therapy can be effective in prolonging patient survival and keeping disease progression at abeyance [4,5]. However, despite combined treatment, median survival ranges from 12 to 15 months for GBM and from 2 to 5 years for anaplastic gliomas [6]. Second debulking surgery alone does not seem to improve the prognosis, as almost all patients die within 6 months after the second surgery. So, the problem of unsatisfactory local control of recurrence continues to exist. Such a dismal prognosis is mainly due to the rapid onset of radioand/or chemoresistance as well as to the limited therapeutic options available for GBM recurring after standard treatment. However, recent clinical studies have shown that fotemustine (FTM) seems to represent an interesting well-tolerated treatment possibility in pretreated patients with recurrent malignant GBM [7-9].

FTM is a third-generation chloroethylnitrosourea characterized by a phosphoalanine carrier group grafted onto the nitrosourea radical, which confers high lipophilicity and better cell membrane penetration [10].

In this study we used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to describe the response of a 47-year-old male with GBM, who had been pretreated and suffered a third relapse who was treated for 6 months with FTM.

In April, 2003 a 47-year-old male presented to the AOUCareggi Emergency Unit because of worsening headache which he had suffered for over a month, accompanied by episodes of morning emesis and hyposthenia of the left hemisoma. He underwent a brain computerized tomography (CT) scan (Figure 1) that showed an expansive process in the right frontal region. After a further MRI confirmation and after a complete radiological survey to exclude other localizations, he underwent craniotomy with excision of the lesion in June, 2003. The definitive histological analysis of the lesion showed a diffusely infiltrating GBM. Immediately after surgery, the patient underwent adjuvant radiochemotherapy with oral TMZ for 2 months and home therapy with dintoina was started.

A brain CT performed during the routine follow-up in April 2004 (Figure 2) revealed a new nodule on the right frontal pole, whose image contrast characteristics were consistent with a tissue nodule in the superior polar frontal region, compatible with GBM recurrence without clinical evidence. Therefore, in May 2004, the patient underwent a second-look surgery with excision of the right superior frontal nodule. Both the intraoperative and

definitive histological examination confirmed the neoplastic nature of the lesion, consistent with GBM recurrence. After surgery the patient refused further TMZ chemotherapy and was only followed-up. A year later, during follow-up examination, the brain MRI findings revealed a further change, with the appearance of a new lesion at the site of the previous surgical excision for the third time. The patient underwent a new craniotomy to excise the second relapse of GBM on the right frontal site. After surgery, the patient was referred for the first time to the Oncology Outpatient Clinic of the Center of Experimental and Clinical Oncology where we managed to convince him to undergo intravenous chemotherapy with FTM as post-surgical adjuvant treatment. Subsequently, from June, 2005 until January, 2006, the patient was administered adjuvant chemotherapy according to the following schedule: Days 1 - 8: FTM 100 mg/m² i.v. (as induction), Day 30: FTM 100 mg/m² i.v. every 30 days for 6 cycles.

During the entire treatment period, the general and hematological toxicity were well controlled. WHO grade toxicity was always <3 without the need for hospitalization or for requiring reduction of the FTM dose during treatment. This probably was also related to the good physical condition of the patient, the absence of comorbidities, and relatively young age.

In March 2005, at the end of chemotherapy we carried out a full check-up of the patient which indicated he had excellent general condition and as confirmed by imaging studies including brain MRI that revealed no signs of relapse.

Today, 7 years after the last GBM recurrence, the patient is still in good health and has no clinical manifestations related to the disease or the treatments he underwent. Since March 2005, brain MRI has been regularly performed every year and has not shown any evidence of GBM recurrence (Figures 3 and 4).

Glioblastomas, the most malignant astrocytic neoplasms, are composed of poorly differentiated neoplastic astrocytes with areas of vascular hyperplasia and zones of coagulation necrosis. GBM is a relatively frequent intracranial neoplasm in adults (12% - 20% of all intracranial tumors) [11]. The treatment of GBM is still a challenge, and despite first-line therapy consisting of surgery, radiotherapy and TMZ as adjuvant chemotherapy, the tumor invariably recurs, allowing median survival of only 9 - 12 months [9]. To date, little data are available regarding GBM patients with more than 5 years’ survival, with percentages varying from 2% - 5% [12,13]. In case of relapse, second debulking surgery alone does not seem to improve the

prognosis. At the same time, there are no clearly established chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of recurrent GBM.

In recent years there have been several agents and chemotherapy regimens used in the treatment of recurrent GBM but all with very only short progression-free intervals and a median survival rarely exceeding 6 months. A few phase II studies have reported about second-line chemotherapy in patients previously treated with TMZ either in the adjuvant setting [14] or at first recurrence [15].

FTM (diethyl-1-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3nitrosureido) ethylphosphonate) is a liposoluble nitrosourea. It consists structurally of a nitrosourea radical attached to an aminophosphonic acid group, as a carrier, to increase its ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and through cell membranes [16]. Data on the outcome of FTM administration for progressing/relapsing GBM used as secondline treatment, report median survival of 21 - 27 months from the first diagnosis of the disease [8,16]. This drug, using the conventional schedule of 100 mg/m² intravenously every week for 3 consecutive weeks followed by a 5-week rest period and maintenance treatment with one infusion every 3 weeks [17], has shown hematological toxicity as the most relevant side effect, being reported in more than 30% of pretreated chemotherapy patients. A previous phase II study in ocular melanoma patients has demonstrated that FTM administered according to the schedule we used, had reduced hematological toxicity while maintaining favorable results in terms of response [18].

In this case report, we describe the management of highly invasive, recurrent GBM, non-responsive to adjuvant TMZ-chemotherapy in a young patient where rescue treatment with FTM administered every 30 days after the induction doses was able to fully control the antiblastic activity without provoking unmanageable hematological toxicity. This result strongly suggests that FTM should be tested in an adequate randomized study to elucidate its possible role in a new adjuvant setting as first-line treatment of GBM. We would like to emphasize that to date, February 2012, 8 years have elapsed since the first manifestation of the disease and our patient has now arrived to age 56 without showing any signs of illness.

The authors acknowledge the assistance of Prof. Grazia Cini for editing the manuscript.

Funding for this study was provided by the “Associazione Toscana Ricerche e Cure Oncologiche” FlorenceItaly.