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[Short course radiotherapy in elderly patients with high-grade glioma]
Hiroshi Aoki1, Manabu Natsumeda, Eisuke Abe
1Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Japan.
Purpose:
There is no standard therapy for elderly patients with high-grade glioma. We have adopted short course radiotherapy for such patients since 2005. The efficacy of this therapy was assessed retrospectively.
Methods:
This study reviewed 16 newly diagnosed high-grade glioma patients aged 75 years or older who were treated with short course radiotherapy (focal radiation in daily fraction of 3 Gy given 5 days per week, for a total dose of 39 Gy).
Results:
All patients received 100% of the planed radiation dose. No patients received prior or concomitant chemotherapy. Thirteen patients had died and median follow-up period was 9 months at the time of analysis. The median age at surgery was 79 years (range 75-86). The estimated median overall survival was 9.6 months. The median Karnofsky Performance Status on admission was 60% (range 40-90) and at discharge was 60% (range 40-80). The median length of hospital stay was 38 days (range 19-61). There is no severe adverse events related to radiation therapy. The rate of discharge to home was 69%.
Conclusion:
Short course radiotherapy can reduce the treatment time and adverse events of conventional radiotherapy without decrement in survival. This therapy seems to be a considerable treatment option for elderly patients with high-grade glioma.
