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Published on: October 27, 2014
Recurrent hematological toxicity after second-line treatment in patients with glioblastoma: indication of a potential
Leon van Hout1,2,3, Femke E L van den Elzen1, Zoë de Jong1
1Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, 1081HV, The Netherlands.
Purpose:
Myelotoxicity is a well-known adverse effect of alkylating chemotherapy for glioblastoma. While risk factors during first-line therapy are established, little is known about myelotoxicity recurrence in second-line treatment. This study investigates whether first-line myelotoxicity therapy predisposes patients to recurrence in the second-line setting.
Patients And Methods:
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 589 patients with glioblastoma treated at the Brain Tumor Centre Amsterdam (2005-2022). Of these, 178 received second-line lomustine or rechallenge temozolomide. Myelotoxicity severity was predominantly assessed using nadir hematological values and its duration. A log-link generalized linear model evaluated associations between first-line and second-line myelotoxicity severity, adjusting for covariates. Cox proportional hazards models assessed time to myelotoxicity onset.
Results:
We included 151 patients (mean age 57.1 ± 11.8 years; 66.9% male). Lomustine was given to 66.9%. Myelotoxicity occurred in 73.5% of patients, with 19.9% developing severe toxicity. First-line myelotoxicity severity was significantly associated with second-line severity (β = 1.3, P < .001). Lomustine correlated with higher myelotoxicity severity than temozolomide (β = 1.4, P = .002). Higher first-line myelotoxicity scores predicted earlier onset of any-grade (HR = 1.4, P < .001) and severe (HR =2.1, P < .001) myelotoxicity in second-line therapy.
Conclusion:
First-line myelotoxicity for glioblastoma predicts its recurrence and earlier onset in second-line therapy. Patients with toxicity in first-line have an increased risk of severe hematological toxicity upon re-exposure. Lomustine carries a higher risk for myelotoxicity than temozolomide. These findings suggest an inherent predisposition to alkylating chemotherapy-induced myelotoxicity for a subgroup of patients. Integrating prior myelotoxicity history into second-line treatment decisions may improve risk stratification and guide monitoring.
