Performance status during and after radiotherapy plus concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide in elderly patients with...

For elderly patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), radiotherapy plus concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide has resulted in longer survival. We investigated patient performance status, treatment-related toxicity and overall survival (OS) following treatment. Twenty patients aged 70years or older with a newly diagnosed GBM were treated with radiotherapy (60Gy in 16 patients and 40Gy in four patients) plus concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide. We assessed age, the extent of tumor removal, and initial performance status as possible prognostic factors for OS and good performance status following treatment. The median OS was 11.8months (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.7-14.8). The median time for patients to reach an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status grade 2 was 3.0months (95% CI, 2.4-3.5), and the time to ECOG performance status grade 3 was 5.8months (95% CI, 1.6-9.9). World Health Organization grade III or grade IV toxicity was observed in four patients (20%), leucopenia and thrombocytopenia was noted in two patients, and major infection occurred in two patients. Univariate analysis showed a significantly longer OS (p=0.003) and a longer time with good performance status for gross total removal (GTR) (p=0.003). An initial good performance status was related to a good performance status during and after treatment (p=0.003). Based on multivariate analysis, GTR was significantly associated with a longer OS (hazard ratio [HR]=0.236; 95% CI, 0.060-0.922, p=0.038) and a good performance status (HR=0.124; 95% CI, 0.022-0.693, p=0.017). During and after treatment, elderly patients with GBM frequently exhibited an early deterioration of performance status. Therefore, in light of a rapidly fatal illness, elderly patients should be treated to preserve and respect their quality of life.