Effects of palliative treatment with temozolomide in patients with high-grade gliomas

The aim of the study was to assess the results of treatment with temozolomide in patients with high-grade gliomas who no longer benefit from surgical treatment and radiotherapy.

The retrospective analysis included 51 patients treated between 2001 and 2007 in the Centre of Oncology in Kraków. Glioblastoma multiforme was histologically diagnosed in 24 (47%) patients; anaplastic astrocytomas and other grade III gliomas (according to WHO classification) were diagnosed in 27 (53%) patients. Patients received 1-11 cycles of treatment with temozolomide - 210 cycles were given in total. Forty-five patients were eligible for efficacy assessment because 6 patients received only one chemotherapy cycle (due to rapid progression of the glioma).

According to the radiological assessment, 6 patients (13%) had an objective response and a further 16 patients (36%) had stabilization of the glioma. Subjective improvement was noted in 26 patients (58%), and neurological improvement was observed in 14 patients (31%). The median survival in the whole group was 41 weeks (40 weeks in patients with glioblastoma multiforme and 54 weeks in patients with anaplastic gliomas). One-year overall survival in the above-mentioned groups was 40.7%, 22%, and 50%, respectively. Two-year overall survival was 16%, 8%, and 20.9%, respectively. Adverse events were observed during 73 (35%) cycles of treatment and prompted a dose reduction in 12 (24.5%) patients. The most frequent adverse events were: thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, nausea and vomiting. Adverse events did not lead to treatment withdrawal in any patient.

Objective benefit from the temozolomide treatment (stabilization or objective remission) was observed in 49% of patients irrespective of histological diagnosis. Tolerability of treatment with temozolomide in patients with high-grade gliomas is good.