Postoperative chemo-radiotherapy with temodal in patients with glioblastoma multiforme--survival rates and prognostic factors.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GM) is the most malignant histological type of brain tumors. It affects the active age and independent of the applied general therapeutic methods in oncology the problem with the short survival of the patients still remains. In the recent years simultaneous application of Temodal and radiation therapy was introduced in medical practice. AIM OF THE PRESENT STUDY: To compare the survival rate of a group of patients subjected to radiation therapy only to the survival rate of a group subjected to simultaneous treatment with Temodal and radiation therapy (RT).

METHODS

179 patients with GM were divided into 2 groups and subjected to radiation therapy with realized total dose of 60 Gy fractionated into 5 x 2 Gy weekly. 44 of the patients underwent chemo-radiotherapy with Temodal dosed 75 mg/m2, and the rest 135 ones received RT alone. All patients received corticosteroid treatment. The Karnofski status (KPS) of the group with Temodal treatment was 90-100%. Survival rates were assessed using the Kaplan-Mayer method and side effects for-the group with simultaneous chemo-radiotherapy.

RESULTS

Chemo-radiation therapy was well tolerated by all patients. Median survival time was 14.83 months for the group with Temodal and 14.67 months for the other group. The progression-free time was 8.5 months. Vomiting was observed in 11.4% of the patients and was corrected with antiemetics. No side hematological deviations were developed as well as pneumonias.

CONCLUSIONS

Temozolomide in combination with chemotherapy is a gold standard for GM patients and it shows a tendency of increased survival. The clinical tolerance is good and no marked side reactions are observed