Radiotherapy followed by adjuvant temozolomide treatment of malignant glioma.

BACKGROUND

Malignant gliomas are the most frequent primary brain tumors in adults. In this clinical trial, we compared the therapeutic advantage of radiotherapy followed by temozolomide vs radiotherapy alone for the malignant glioma patients.

METHODS

In the 4-year retrospective study, 31 patients with histologically confirmed malignant gliomas, in which 10 patients received radiotherapy followed by temozolomide (group A) and 21 patients received radiotherapy alone (group B). The main end point of evaluation and comparison of 2 therapeutic trials was overall survival.

RESULTS

Two patients (6%) underwent biopsy, 19 patients (62%) underwent subtotal resection, and 10 patients (32%) underwent gross total resection. Mean overall survival was 30.44+/-2.41 months for radiotherapy followed by adjuvant temozolomide vs 17.95+/-4.27 months for radiotherapy alone (P=.007). No major adverse effects were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on our study, the patients of malignant glioma treated with radiotherapy followed by temozolomide obtained a statistically significant better benefit of survival than those treated with radiotherapy alone. Temozolomide therapy was well tolerated by the patients. The larger series of patients and long-term follow-up of late toxic effects are needed for further confirmation.