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Factors associated with poor prognosis in elderly biopsy-only glioblastoma patients

  • 0Department of Neurosurgery, Institution of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. jana.edriss@skane.se.
Acta Neurochirurgica +

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October 10, 2025

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October 10, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

In elderly patients with biopsy-only glioblastoma (GBM), poor performance status (PS), larger tumor volume, and central tumor location predict reduced survival. Poor PS also hinders treatment completion in these patients.

Area Of Science

  • Neuro-oncology
  • Geriatric oncology

Background

  • Glioblastoma (GBM) in elderly patients (>65 years) carries a poor prognosis.
  • Many elderly GBM patients have impaired performance status (PS), limiting trial eligibility.
  • Brain biopsy is standard for diagnosis when resection isn't feasible, but prognostic factors are understudied in this group.

Purpose Of The Study

  • Identify preoperative factors linked to reduced 3-month survival in elderly, biopsy-only GBM patients.
  • Determine predictors of treatment incompletion in this cohort.
  • Inform counseling regarding the benefits of biopsy in vulnerable elderly GBM patients.

Main Methods

  • Retrospective review of biopsy-only GBM patients aged >65 years (2017-2020).
  • Logistic regression analyzed preoperative prognostic factors.
  • Kaplan-Meier method estimated overall survival (OS).

Main Results

  • 132 patients included; median OS was 4.6 months; 50% completed treatment.
  • Poor PS (OR=0.2), larger tumor volume (OR=0.9), and central location (OR=0.3) predicted reduced 3-month survival.
  • Poor PS was the sole predictor of treatment incompletion (OR=0.06); median OS was 1.6 months in this subgroup.

Conclusions

  • Poor preoperative PS, central tumor location, and larger tumor volume are associated with reduced short-term survival in elderly, biopsy-only GBM.
  • Elderly patients with poor PS are significantly less likely to complete treatment.
  • Findings support improved risk stratification and counseling for this patient group.

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