Journal of neuro-oncology
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Journal of neuro-oncology · Jul 2018
Location of subventricular zone recurrence and its radiation dose predicts survival in patients with glioblastoma.
Glioblastomas are aggressive brain tumors that frequently recur in the subventricular zone (SVZ) despite maximal treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate imaging patterns of subventricular progression and impact of recurrent subventricular tumor involvement and radiation dose to patient outcome. Retrospective review of 50 patients diagnosed with glioblastoma and treated with surgery, radiation, and concurrent temozolomide from January 2012 to June 2013 was performed. ⋯ Distant subventricular progression at a site receiving ≤ 45 Gy predicted worse subsequent survival (p = 0.05). Glioblastomas frequently recurred in the subventricular zone, and patient survival was worse when enhancing tumor occurred at sites that received lower radiation doses. This recurrent disease may represent disease undertreated at the time of diagnosis, and further study is needed to determine if improved treatment strategies, such as including the subventricular zone in radiation fields, could improve clinical outcomes.
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Journal of neuro-oncology · Jan 2020
The role of radiation and chemotherapy in adult patients with high-grade brainstem gliomas: results from the National Cancer Database.
Surgical resection of high-grade brainstem gliomas is challenging and treatment mostly involves radiation and chemotherapy. In this study, we utilized registry data to determine prognostic features and impact of chemotherapy and radiation on overall survival. ⋯ Analysis from a national registry illustrated the effectiveness of radiation with chemotherapy for adult patients with high-grade brainstem gliomas, particularly grade IV. Further research should identify specific patient profiles and molecular subgroups that are more likely to benefit from multimodality therapy.
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Journal of neuro-oncology · Sep 2020
Newly diagnosed glioblastoma in geriatric (65 +) patients: impact of patients frailty, comorbidity burden and obesity on overall survival.
Increasing age is a known negative prognostic factor for glioblastoma. However, a multifactorial approach is necessary to achieve optimal neuro-oncological treatment. It remains unclear to what extent frailty, comorbidity burden, and obesity might exert influence on survival in geriatric glioblastoma patients. We have therefore reviewed our institutional database to assess the prognostic value of these factors in elderly glioblastoma patients. ⋯ The present study concludes that both increased frailty and comorbidity burden are significantly associated with poor OS in geriatric patients with glioblastoma. Further, the present series suggests an obesity paradox in geriatric glioblastoma patients.
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Journal of neuro-oncology · Jan 2020
Weak MGMT gene promoter methylation confers a clinically significant survival benefit in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma: a retrospective cohort study.
Quantitative methylation specific PCR (qMSP) is a frequently used technique to assess MGMT gene promoter methylation in glioblastoma patients. The optimal technical cut-off value to distinguish methylated from unmethylated samples is nevertheless still undetermined. In literature, a "grey zone" of diagnostic uncertainty has been described. ⋯ Glioblastoma patients with weak promoter methylation show a statistically significant longer overall survival when compared to clearly unmethylated patients. Patients with grey zone qMSP test results should receive additional molecular analysis in future to further direct individual therapy strategies.
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Journal of neuro-oncology · Jan 2020
Socioeconomic factors affect treatment delivery for patients with low grade glioma: a Swedish population-based study.
Despite aspirations to achieve equality in healthcare we know that socioeconomic differences exist and may affect treatment and patient outcome, also in serious diseases such as cancer. We investigated disparities in neurosurgical care and outcome for patients with low-grade glioma (LGG). ⋯ The neurosurgical care for LGG in Sweden, a society with universal healthcare, displays differences that can be related to socioeconomic factors.