Feasibility and toxicity of CCNU therapy in elderly patients with glioblastoma multiforme

In our institution, 103 glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients aged from 55 to 83 years were treated since November 1994 as follows. All patients underwent surgical intervention (gross total resection, n = 35; subtotal resection, n = 38; stereotactic biopsy, n = 30). Subsequently all patients were offered radiotherapy and chemotherapy with CCNU. Results were as follows: 101 patients started radiotherapy, 93 patients completed it (96% of the patients aged < 65 years and 85% of the patients > or =65 years). All patients received at least 1 cycle of chemotherapy (median 3 cycles). Chemotherapy-associated toxicity was generally mild, more pronounced in females and did not increase with age. Median time to progression was 10.5+/-3.2 months for the patients < 65 years and 5.1+/-1 months for patients > or =65 years. median overall survival was 17.5+/-3.8 months in patients < 65 years and 8.6+/-1 months in patients > or =65 years (p < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, age and female sex remained independent prognostic factors. Our data indicate that a treatment concept including concomitant radio- and chemotherapy is feasible even in elderly patients with GBM.