P0088 Experience with higher doses of radiotherapy in the postoperative treatment of glioblastoma multiforme: A single institutional report

• Published in: European journal of cancer (1990) Vol. 50; p. e34
• Main Authors: Sedighi Pashaki, A, Akbari Hamed, E, Abassi, M, Mohamadian, K, Maddah Safaei, A, Gholami, M.H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2014
• Subjects: Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine
• ISSN: 0959-8049; 1879-0852
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2014.03.132

Background Glioblastoma multiforme is a highly aggressive tumour with median survival of approximately 14 months. Management consists of maximal surgical resection followed by postoperative chemoradiation with concurrent then adjuvant temozolamide. The standard radiotherapy dose is 60 Gy in 2-Gy fractions. Most tumour recurrences occur within the previous irradiation field. Regimens designed to deliver higher radiation dose to improve local control and enhance survival warrant investigation. Methods We report a single institutional experience of treatment of consecutive patients with glioblastoma multiforme, treated with resection, postoperative radiotherapy followed by concurrent and/or adjuvant chemotherapy. Findings Of the 80 patients who entered the study, 68 completed the treatment course; there were 45 (66.2 %) male and 23 (33.8%) female patients with a mean age at diagnosis of 48.97 ± 12.85 (21–75) years. At a median follow up of 19 months, 39 (57.3%) patients had evidence of tumour progression and 36 (52.9%) patients had died. Median overall survival for all patients was 16 months and progression-free survival for all patients was 6.02 months. All potential prognostic factors were analysed to evaluate their effects on overall survival. age of 50 years or younger, concurrent and adjuvant chemotherapy, and extent of surgery were significant. We noted a lower progression rate among patients who received higher doses of radiotherapy (>60 Gy; p = 0.03). Overall survival was also increased, but this was not significant. Interpretation This study suggests that higher radiation doses (>60 Gy) can improve local control and potentially survival; prospective multicentric studies should be done to evaluate the effect of higher doses of conformal radiation on the outcomes of patients with glioblastoma multiforme.