Glioblastoma multiforme in adults: results of treatment

One hundred and thirty adult patients with brain tumors were treated in the Department of Radiation Oncology, Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine from 1973 to 1980. Forty-one patients (39%) were diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme. Forty-two percent of the patients were in the age group of 51-60 years. There were 24 males and 27 females. Forty-seven percent of the patients had partial resection, 27% had total excision and 26% had biopsy only. The radiation dose ranged from 4400 to 6600 rad with a median dose of 5500 rad. The median survival was 8.5 months, (range 3 to 120 months), 38% of patients survived one year or more and 10% survived 2 years or more. A detailed review of the current policy of treatment and of the ongoing clinical trials is done in this paper.