METHODOLOGY: The survival of 357 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in three treatment groups reflecting different time-periods of diagnosis (A: 1982-1984; B: 1994/1995; C: 1996-1998) was analysed to assess the impact and the potential improvement of changing treatment strategies in our tertiary-care center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Group A (n = 100) included all consecutive patients diagnosed from 1982 to 1984 and served as the historical control. Group B (n = 93) included all consecutive patients diagnosed in 1994/1995 and group C (n = 164) those diagnosed from 1996 to 1998. Survival in the three treatment groups (A vs. B vs. C) was analysed according to treatment given after neurosurgical intervention (i.e. no specific therapy versus radiotherapy versus combined radio-/chemotherapy), and according to first-line chemotherapy, age (< 40, 40-60, > 60), sex, and tumor location (hemispheric versus bilateral or multifocal tumors, and tumors involving eloquent brain areas). Survival was analysed using Kaplan-Meier's non-parametric method. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Patients in groups A and B received radio- and/or chemotherapy to a varying extent (radiotherapy: group A: 22%, group B: 62%; chemotherapy: group A: 6%, group B: 33%). Chemotherapy was administered after termination of radiotherapy in both groups. In group C, 96% of patients received combined radio-/chemotherapy which was administered concomitantly and started within three weeks after surgery. Median survival was 5.2 months in group A, 5.1 months in group B and 14.5 months in C (p < 0.0001). Nine patients in group A (9%), 9 in group B (10%) and 40 in group C (25%) survived more than 18 months (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Survival improvement in group C might be attributable to the early start of combined radio-/chemotherapy. Therapy was administered on a complete outpatient basis, enabled by a dedicated interdisciplinary neuro-oncologic team caring for group C. Toxicity was mild and patients' acceptance excellent.
METHODOLOGY: The survival of 357 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in three treatment groups reflecting different time-periods of diagnosis (A: 1982-1984; B: 1994/1995; C: 1996-1998) was analysed to assess the impact and the potential improvement of changing treatment strategies in our tertiary-care center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Group A (n = 100) included all consecutive patients diagnosed from 1982 to 1984 and served as the historical control. Group B (n = 93) included all consecutive patients diagnosed in 1994/1995 and group C (n = 164) those diagnosed from 1996 to 1998. Survival in the three treatment groups (A vs. B vs. C) was analysed according to treatment given after neurosurgical intervention (i.e. no specific therapy versus radiotherapy versus combined radio-/chemotherapy), and according to first-line chemotherapy, age (< 40, 40-60, > 60), sex, and tumor location (hemispheric versus bilateral or multifocal tumors, and tumors involving eloquent brain areas). Survival was analysed using Kaplan-Meier's non-parametric method. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Patients in groups A and B received radio- and/or chemotherapy to a varying extent (radiotherapy: group A: 22%, group B: 62%; chemotherapy: group A: 6%, group B: 33%). Chemotherapy was administered after termination of radiotherapy in both groups. In group C, 96% of patients received combined radio-/chemotherapy which was administered concomitantly and started within three weeks after surgery. Median survival was 5.2 months in group A, 5.1 months in group B and 14.5 months in C (p < 0.0001). Nine patients in group A (9%), 9 in group B (10%) and 40 in group C (25%) survived more than 18 months (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Survival improvement in group C might be attributable to the early start of combined radio-/chemotherapy. Therapy was administered on a complete outpatient basis, enabled by a dedicated interdisciplinary neuro-oncologic team caring for group C. Toxicity was mild and patients' acceptance excellent.
Authors: R Hatlevoll; K F Lindegaard; S Hagen; K Kristiansen; R Nesbakken; A Torvik; J C Ganz; O Mella; B Rosengren; R Ringkjöb Journal: Cancer Date: 1985-07-01 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: M Esteller; J Garcia-Foncillas; E Andion; S N Goodman; O F Hidalgo; V Vanaclocha; S B Baylin; J G Herman Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2000-11-09 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: B Fazeny-Dörner; M Veitl; C Wenzel; K Rössler; K Ungersböck; K Dieckmann; M Piribauer; J Hainfellner; C Marosi Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2003-02-24 Impact factor: 7.640
Authors: Marco Hassler; Michael Micksche; Günther Stockhammer; Josef Pichler; Franz Payer; Brigitte Abuja; Robert Deinsberger; Christine Marosi Journal: Wien Klin Wochenschr Date: 2006-05 Impact factor: 1.704
Authors: Jessica M Grunda; L Burton Nabors; Cheryl A Palmer; David C Chhieng; Adam Steg; Tom Mikkelsen; Robert B Diasio; Kui Zhang; David Allison; William E Grizzle; Wenquan Wang; G Yancey Gillespie; Martin R Johnson Journal: J Neurooncol Date: 2006-06-14 Impact factor: 4.130