Long-term survival of glioblastoma multiforme: importance of histopathological reevaluation

The overall prognosis for patients with glioblastoma multiforme is extremely poor. However, a small proportion of patients enjoy prolonged survival. This study investigated retrospectively the extent to which erroneous histopathological classification may contribute to long-term survival of patients initially diagnosed with "glioblastoma multiforme." We compared two age- and gender-matched patient groups with different postoperative time to tumor progression (TTP), defined as "short-term" for TTP of less than 6 months (n = 54), and "long-term" for TTP of more than 12 months (n = 52). Histological specimens of the corresponding tumors, all primarily diagnosed as glioblastoma multiforme, were reevaluated according to the current World Health Organization (WHO) classification of central nervous system tumors, with the investigators being blinded to clinical outcome. Among the tumors from short-term TTP patients, one tumor (2%) was reclassified as anaplastic oligoastrocytoma (WHO grade III) while the remaining 53 were confirmed as glioblastoma multiforme. In contrast, 13 tumors (25%) from the long-term TTP patients were reclassified, mostly as anaplastic oligodendroglioma (WHO grade III; n = 7) or anaplastic oligoastrocytoma (WHO grade III, n = 2), respectively. In addition, three were reclassified as anaplastic astrocytoma (WHO grade III), and one was identified as anaplastic pilocytic astrocytoma (WHO grade III). Our data indicate that a sizable proportion of glioblastoma patients with long-term survival actually carry malignant gliomas with oligodendroglial features. The correct histopathological recognition of these tumors has not only prognostic but also therapeutic implications, since oligodendroglial tumors are more likely to respond favorably to chemotherapy.