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Updated: Jun 26, 2026
The Clinical Application of Tumor Treating Fields Therapy in Glioblastoma
Published on: April 16, 2019
Clinical Predictors of Survival After Palliative Radiotherapy for Glioblastoma in a Real-World Cohort Study
Felix Bock1, Guido Hildebrandt1, Bernd Frerker1
1Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany.
Background:
This study sought to evaluate overall survival (OS) following palliative radiotherapy in glioblastoma and to identify clinically applicable predictors supporting patient-centred treatment decisions, with exploration of early mortality.
Methods:
This retrospective single-centre study analysed 169 glioblastoma patients treated with palliative radiotherapy between 2010 and 2025. Baseline clinical and treatment variables were assessed. OS calculated from the last day of radiotherapy was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis; predictors were analysed using Cox regression. Early mortality (≤30 and ≤60 days) was evaluated using logistic regression.
Results:
Median age at diagnosis was 75 years, median Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) was 60%, with 63% of patients < 70%. Impaired mental status, sensorimotor deficits, and steroid use were observed in 47%, 68%, and 86% of patients, respectively. Median OS was 3.5 months. Impaired mental status (HR 2.25), sensorimotor deficits (HR 1.77), steroid use (HR 1.39), multilobar involvement (HR 1.44), and age (HR 1.03) were independently associated with OS, whereas KPS was not. The rate of early mortality at 30 and 60 days was 18% and 31%. Early mortality analysis indicated impaired mental status and steroid use as indicators of very limited survival.
Conclusions:
Impaired mental status and steroid use identify patients with limited survival, whereas KPS lacks independent prognostic value in this setting.
