Radiotherapy is effective in patients with glioblastoma multiforme with a limited prognosis and in patients above 70 years of age: a retrospective single institution analysis.

Abstract

To evaluate the efficacy of radiotherapy in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) with a limited prognosis and in patients older than 70 years. Retrospective analysis of 202 patients with GBM treated between 1990 and 2000 in a single institution. Patients (including patients >or=70 years) were assigned to RPA groups and their survival was compared with RTOG data. Median survival was 8.0 months for the total group and 13.9, 10.6, 3.8, 2.1 months for RPA group III (n=17), IV (n=87), V (n=60) and VI (n=38), respectively. Median survival for patients >or=70 years was 3.6 vs. 8.1 months for 50--70 years and 11.0 months for <50. In each separate RPA group, patients >or=70 years had a similar survival compared to patients of 50--70 years. Irradiated patients (66%) survived significantly longer than non-irradiated patients: 10.6 vs. 1.9 months (P<0.0001). In RPA group V the median survival for irradiated patients was 9.4 vs. 2.1 months for non-irradiated patients. In a multivariate analysis, RT remained the only prognostic factor for survival (HR 8.9, P<0.001). Prognosis for patients above 70 years of age is not different from younger patients, when analyzed for separate RPA groups. For patients with a poor prognosis (i.e. RPA group V), radiotherapy improves survival significantly.