carboplatin + carmustine + etoposide

This is a combination chemotherapy regimen consisting of three small molecule alkylating and cytotoxic agents—carboplatin, carmustine, and etoposide. Each drug has a distinct mechanism of action but all contribute to the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation: - **Carboplatin** is an organoplatinum alkylating agent that forms DNA crosslinks, leading to apoptosis in rapidly dividing cells. It is primarily used for ovarian cancer but also in other solid tumors. - **Carmustine** (also known as BCNU) is a nitrosourea alkylating agent that causes interstrand DNA crosslinking and inhibits both DNA and RNA synthesis. It penetrates the blood-brain barrier well and is commonly used for brain tumors. - **Etoposide** inhibits topoisomerase II, resulting in double-stranded DNA breaks during replication. This combination has been studied particularly in high-grade gliomas such as glioblastoma, where it aims to improve tumor response rates and survival outcomes compared to single-agent therapy[1]. The regimen may be referred to by its components or by acronyms if part of specific protocols.