Glucocorticoid dependency as a prognostic factor in radiotherapy for cerebral gliomas.

Records of 76 consecutive patients treated with radiotherapy for cerebral gliomas were reviewed. Eleven patients had no tissue diagnosis, and their outcome was comparable to that of patients with glioblastoma. Patients with other histologic diagnoses had much better results. Among the entire study population, the most important prognostic factors included age and histologic grade. Even with stratification by histologic grade and age, glucocorticoid (steroid) dependency was a reliable prognostic indicator in terms of survival. Fifteen of the 47 patients (32%) who were less steroid dependant are still alive with a median survival time of 29 months. Among the 29 patients who were heavily dependant on steroids during the course of radiotherapy, the median survival time was 5 months with only 2 patients (7%) still alive.