Cancers & treatments·Regimen libraryAdjuvant

PCV (procarbazine, lomustine, vincristine)

Checked 2026-09-09

Anaplastic oligodendroglioma and IDH-mutant, 1p/19q-codeleted gliomas, with radiotherapy (RTOG 9402 gave PCV before, EORTC 26951 after)

Also called PCV.

One cycle

every 42 days × 6 · about 36 weeks in total

42-day cycle × 6 (EORTC 26951); 4 intensified cycles in RTOG 9402 (about 36 weeks)OralIntravenous Daily oral course

Components

Drug	Dose	Route	Days
Lomustine (CCNU) Oral nitrosourea chemotherapy	110 mg/m²	Oral	D1
Procarbazine Alkylating-like methylhydrazine derivative	60 mg/m² once daily	Oral	D8-21
Vincristine Vinca alkaloid (microtubule inhibitor)	1.4 mg/m² (maximum 2 mg)	IV	D8, 29

Cycles

6 (EORTC 26951); 4 intensified cycles in RTOG 9402

42-day cycle

Emetogenicity

Moderate (30-90%)

G-CSF

Not routine

Notes

In both RTOG 9402 and EORTC 26951 (van den Bent, JCO 2013, doi 10.1200/JCO.2012.43.2229) adding PCV to radiotherapy roughly doubled median survival in 1p/19q-codeleted tumours.
Haematological toxicity and vincristine neuropathy are the limits; temozolomide is often substituted in practice although the evidence is for PCV.

Used in

Brain and spinal cord tumours (all types)

Products

Lomustine (CCNU)ProcarbazineVincristine

Source

Cairncross (RTOG 9402), JCO 2013: long-term results of chemoradiotherapy for anaplastic oligodendroglioma

Reference doses for a typical adult from the cited protocol or label. Doses are adjusted for renal and hepatic function, age, performance status and prior toxicity, and institutional protocols vary. Verify against the current label and your local protocol before treating. Not medical advice.

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