Impact of standard care on elderly glioblastoma patients

Uncertainty persists about the survival advantage of concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ) plus radiotherapy (RT) in elderly patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM). We compared the clinical outcome of unselected elderly GBM patients treated with 4 adjuvant treatment modalities, including the Stupp protocol.

From 2010 to 2014, retrospective chart review was performed on 171 GBM patients aged ≥55 who received either concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) with standard 60 Gy/30 (SRT); CCRT with hypofractionated 40 Gy/15 (HRT); HRT alone; or TMZ alone. Stratification is by age (55-69, ≥70), KPS (<70, ≥70), and resection status (biopsy, resection).

Out of 171 patients identified, 128(75%) had surgical resection, median age was 66(55-83), and median overall survival (mOS) 11.4mo. Majority (109/171) were treated according to the Stupp protocol (CCRT-SRT), and 106/171 received post-CCRT adjuvant TMZ (median of 3 cycles). In our population, age <70yo was a significant prognostic factor (mOS of patients aged 55-69 vs ≥70 yo = 13.3 vs 6.6 mo; P = .001). However, among the population receiving the Stupp regimen, there was no difference in survival between patients aged 55-69 and those ≥70 (respectively, 14.4 vs 13.2 mo; P = .798). Patients ≥70 yo had similar survival when treated with CCRT-HRT and CCRT-SRT (P = .248), although numbers were small.

Our data suggests that, despite having a worse global prognostic than their younger counterparts, GBM patients ≥70yo with a good performance status could be treated according to the Stupp protocol with similar survival. Theses results need prospective confirmation.