Chemotherapy regimen for the treatment of glioma/astrocytoma.
PCV combination (Levin)
Lomustine(CCNU) 110 mg/m2 orally day 1
Vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 IV day days 8 and 29
Procarbazine 60-100 mg/m2 for 14 days (days 8 - 21)
Repeated every 6 weeks
PCV combination (intensive)
Lomustine(CCNU) 130 mg/m2 orally day 1
Vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 iv days 8 and 29
Procarbazine 75 mg/m2 orally for 14 days (days 8-21)
Repeated every 6-8 weeks
PCV combination (MRC)
Lomustine(CCNU) 100 mg/m2 orally day 1
Vincristine 1.4/m2 iv day 1
Procarbazine 100 mg/m2 orally for 10 days (days 1 -10)
Repeated every 6-8 weeks
PCV is a combination of three anti-tumour drugs, Procarbazine, CCNU (lomustine) and Vincristine. Procarbazine is in tablet form and is taken once a day for 10 days. CCNU is also in tablet form but is taken only once on the first day of each treatment cycle. Vincristine is given by injection into a vein on the first day. The PCV treatment is repeated every six weeks for as long as the patient benefits from it, usually for up to 9 to 12 months.
Side effects:
- Sickness
- Nausea
- Bone Marrow Suppression
The procarbazine may interact with certain foods causing the patient to feel unwell. The symptoms of a reaction include headache, rash, flushing, pounding heart, sweating and occasional sickness and vomiting.
The foods that might cause a reaction include:
Hair loss doesn’t occur with this chemotherapy regimen although a few people have reported hair thinning.
PCV can cause infertility in both men and women