PCV for anaplastic oligodendrogliomas: back to the future or a step backwards? A point/counterpoint discussion

Treatment Recommendations for Adult Patients with Diffuse Gliomas of Grades II and III According to the New WHO Classification in 2016

With advanced understanding of molecular background and correlation with therapeutic outcomes, the revised 4th edition of World Health Organization (WHO) classification of central nervous system (CNS) tumors incorporated molecular information into the definition of diffuse gliomas. Indeed, oligodendroglioma and astrocytoma are now defined by molecular signature, with diagnosis of glioblastoma being made by histology. In parallel, numerous clinical trials are underway all over the world, and important findings are being produced every year that have an impact on patient outcomes. Moreover, novel therapies/technologies are also being actively developed; however, there are still many CNS tumors for which no effective therapy has been established except radiotherapy. In this article, the authors review the recent results of major clinical trials and present their treatment recommendations for patients with adult, supratentorial diffuse gliomas of grades II and III stratified according to the new WHO classification.

Brain tumors - other treatment modalities

Management of tumors of the central nervous system is challenging for clinicians for various reasons, including complex diagnostic procedures, limited penetration of drugs into brain tissue, and the prerequisite to preserve brain function in any case of therapeutic intervention. Therapeutic success is dependent on the efforts, skills, and cooperation of involved specialists and disciplines. Knowledge and ability to apply adequate therapeutic modalities in an interdisciplinary approach in due time are crucial, necessitating coordination of diagnostic procedures and therapeutic interventions by means of multidisciplinary brain tumor boards. In this chapter we present in brief the essential current standards and future perspectives for therapy modalities that complement surgery of brain tumors.

Phase II trial of pre-irradiation and concurrent temozolomide in patients with newly diagnosed anaplastic oligodendrogliomas and mixed anaplastic oligoastrocytomas: long term results of RTOG BR0131

We report on the long-term results of a phase II study of pre-irradiation temozolomide followed by concurrent temozolomide and radiotherapy (RT) in patients with newly diagnosed anaplastic oligodendroglioma (AO) and mixed anaplastic oligoastrocytoma. Pre-RT temozolomide was given for up to 6 cycles. RT with concurrent temozolomide was administered to patients with less than a complete radiographic response. Forty eligible patients were entered and 32 completed protocol treatment. With a median follow-up time of 8.7 years (range 1.1-10.1), median progression-free survival (PFS) is 5.8 years (95 % CI 2.0, NR) and median overall survival (OS) has not been reached (5.9, NR). 1p/19q data are available in 37 cases; 23 tumors had codeletion while 14 tumors had no loss or loss of only 1p or 19q (non-codeleted). In codeleted patients, 9 patients have progressed and 4 have died; neither median PFS nor OS have been reached and two patients who received only pre-RT temozolomide and no RT have remained progression-free for over 7 years. 3-year PFS and 6-year OS are 78 % (95 % CI 61-95 %) and 83 % (95 % CI 67-98 %), respectively. Codeleted patients show a trend towards improved 6-year survival when compared to the codeleted procarbazine/CCNU/vincristrine (PCV) and RT cohort in RTOG 9402 (67 %, 95 % CI 55-79 %). For non-codeleted patients, median PFS and OS are 1.3 and 5.8 years, respectively. These updated results suggest that the regimen of dose intense, pre-RT temozolomide followed by concurrent RT/temozolomide has significant activity, particularly in patients with 1p/19q codeleted AOs and MAOs.