Favorable outcome in the elderly cohort treated by concomitant temozolomide radiochemotherapy in a multicentric phase II safety study of 5-ALA

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Walter Stummer - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Ulf Nestler - , University of Marburg (Author)
  • Florian Stockhammer - , University of Rostock (Author)
  • Dietmar Krex - , Department of Neurosurgery, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Bodo C. Kern - , Hospital Bergmannstrost (Author)
  • Hubert M. Mehdorn - , Kiel University (Author)
  • Giles H. Vince - , University of Würzburg (Author)
  • Uwe Pichlmeier - , medac GmbH (Author)

Abstract

The primary objective of this augmental, prospective, uncontrolled phase II multicentre trial was to assess adverse events (AE) associated with malignant glioma resection using 5-aminolevulinic (5-ALA). During accrual, the standard of adjuvant therapy changed to concomitant radiochemotherapy with adjuvant temozolomide (RT/TMZ). Thus, this study also provided a platform for investigating the influence of RT/TMZ on survival in patients with fluorescence-guided resections. Malignant glioma patients, aged 18-75 years and with a Karnofsky performance score (KPS) ≥70%, were eligible. Data were collected on adverse events, KPS, survival and adjuvant therapies. In 243 patients evaluable for safety, 6-week AE incidence was 51.9% (nervous system disorders: 30.0%). Three patients experienced four possibly drug-related AEs. Grade III/IV incidence was 18.9% (nervous system disorders: 10.7%). About 48 h after surgery, AE incidence was 26.3% (9.9% grade III/IV), which was related to overall survival. A total of 219 patients (glioblastoma 206; anaplastic astrocytoma: 13) qualified for efficacy analysis. Median overall survival was 14.1 months (95% CI: 12.0-16.6), but 16.3 (13-19.2) months in 122 glioblastoma patients receiving RT/TMZ compared to 11.9 (9.6-14.1) months in the remaining 84 patients (P = 0.0194). Older patients (≥60 years) had less adjuvant therapies than younger patients. Median survival of older glioblastoma patients with RT/TMZ was also significantly prolonged (16.3; 12.0-17.2 months vs. 11.2; 7.4-14.1, hazard ratio = 0.55; 0.32-0.92). Risks of surgery were similar to past experiences with 5-ALA. Ancillary analyses demonstrated surgical glioblastoma patients, including the elderly, to have derived benefit from RT/TMZ. Thus, older patients should not generally be excluded from accepted therapies (fluorescence-guided resection plus RT/TMZ).

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)361-370
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of neuro-oncology
Volume103
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2011
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 20922459

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • 5-ALA, Concomitant radiochemotherapy, Elderly, Fluorescence-guided resection, Glioblastoma