Palliative Radiotherapy of Primary Glioblastoma

BACKGROUND/AIM: Care is often palliative when patients are not fit and complete resection of glioblastomas cannot be achieved. This study aimed to identify predictors of survival after palliative radiotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients irradiated after biopsy or incomplete resection of primary glioblastoma were retrospectively analyzed. Median total dose, dose per fraction and equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions (EQD2) were 45.0 Gy, 3.0 Gy and 46.0 Gy, respectively. Median number of fractions was 15, median treatment time 3 weeks. Ten patients received temozolomide. Six factors were evaluated for survival including location of glioblastoma, Karnofsky performance score (KPS), gender, age, EQD2 and temozolomide.

RESULTS: KPS ≥60 showed a trend for improved survival (p=0.141). For other factors including EQD2, no significant association with survival was found.

CONCLUSION: Patients with a KPS ≤50 have a poor survival prognosis and appear good candidates for short-course radiotherapy. Selected patients with better KPS may be considered for more aggressive treatments.