Hypofractionated radiotherapy with temozolomide in diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas: a randomized controlled trial

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is the most common form of brainstem glioma. The present study was performed to assess if hypofractionated radiotherapy completed in < 3 weeks with temozolomide improves survival in DIPG.

The present study is a phase II open label randomized trial. The study included newly diagnosed patients with DIPG. Patients in arm A received conventional fractionated RT of 60 Gy in 30 fractions over 6 weeks while patients in arm B received hypo-fractionated radiotherapy of 39 Gy in 13 fractions over 2.6 weeks along with concurrent Temozolomide (TMZ) 75 mg/m² from day 1 to day 17 followed by adjuvant TMZ for six cycles. The survival analysis was performed with modified intention to treat analysis.

A total of 35 patients were randomized. 33 patients were evaluable. 93% (n = 14) of patients in the conventional arm completed treatment while only 17% (n = 3) of the children could complete planned course of treatment in the experimental arm. The median overall survival (OS) was 11 months (95% CI - 7.5 to 14.5 months) in the conventional arm and 12 months (95% CI - 10.5 to 13.5 months) in the experimental arm (p = 0.208). 28% (n = 5) patients in the experimental arm developed grade 3 or 4 hematological toxicity.

The above study shows that hypofractionated radiotherapy with concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide does not improve OS and has higher hematological toxicity. Conventional radiotherapy remains the standard of care.