Comparison of surgery with or without adjuvant radiotherapy in treating central neurocytoma: a single-center retrospective real-world study.

PURPOSE

To investigate the efficacy and safety of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) in patients with central neurocytoma (CN).

METHODS

The study included 68 patients with CN retrospectively, was further divided into surgery + RT group (31 patients) and surgery alone group (37 patients). Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse reactions (AEs) were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The median follow-up duration was 82.2 (interquartile range, 64.7-104.5) months. Patients in the surgery + RT group tended to have longer PFS than those in the surgery alone group (5-year PFS rate: 92.7% vs. 86.3%; P = 0.074). There was no significant difference in OS between the two groups (5-year OS rate: 96.8% vs. 94.3%; P = 0.639). Subgroup analysis revealed a significant improvement in PFS in patients receiving RT after surgery in patients who underwent subtotal resection (STR) (P = 0.045). In the overall population, univariate multivariate analysis revealed that gross total resection (GTR) (P = 0.002), tumor location in the unilateral ventricle (P = 0.008), and MIB-1 (Ki-67) labeling index (LI) < 5% (P = 0.009) were favorable independent prognostic factors for PFS. Whereas tumor location in the unilateral ventricle (P = 0.043) was a favorable independent prognostic factor for OS. Moreover, RT patients experienced AEs (Grade 1-2, well-tolerated).

CONCLUSION

Adjuvant RT in the treatment of CNs showed satisfactory safety, and postoperative RT could improve PFS in STR patients. Furthermore, GTR, tumor development in the unilateral ventricle, and MIB-1 LI < 5% were found to be favorable factors affecting the prognosis of CNs.