Utilization and impact of adjuvant therapy in anaplastic oligodendroglioma: an analysis on 1692 patients

Updates on management of gliomas in the molecular age

Gliomas are primary brain tumors derived from glial cells of the central nervous system, afflicting both adults and children with distinct characteristics and therapeutic challenges. Recent developments have ushered in novel clinical and molecular prognostic factors, reshaping treatment paradigms based on classification and grading, determined by histological attributes and cellular lineage. This review article delves into the diverse treatment modalities tailored to the specific grades and molecular classifications of gliomas that are currently being discussed and used clinically in the year 2023. For adults, the therapeutic triad typically consists of surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. In contrast, pediatric gliomas, due to their diversity, require a more tailored approach. Although complete tumor excision can be curative based on the location and grade of the glioma, certain non-resectable cases demand a chemotherapy approach usually involving, vincristine and carboplatin. Additionally, if surgery or chemotherapy strategies are unsuccessful, Vinblastine can be used. Despite recent advancements in treatment methodologies, there remains a need of exploration in the literature, particularly concerning the efficacy of treatment regimens for isocitrate dehydrogenase type mutant astrocytomas and fine-tuned therapeutic approaches tailored for pediatric cohorts. This review article explores into the therapeutic modalities employed for both adult and pediatric gliomas in the context of their molecular classification.

Utility of Administrative Databases and Big Data on Understanding Glioma Treatment—A Systematic Review

Background Gliomas are a heterogeneous group of tumors where large multicenter clinical and genetic studies have become increasingly popular in their understanding. We reviewed and analyzed the findings from large databases in gliomas, seeking to understand clinically relevant information.

Methods A systematic review was performed for gliomas studied using large administrative databases up to January 2020 (e.g., National Inpatient Sample [NIS], National Surgical Quality Improvement Program [NSQIP], and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program [SEER], National Cancer Database [NCDB], and others).

Results Out of 390 screened studies, 122 were analyzed. Studies included a wide range of gliomas including low- and high-grade gliomas. The SEER database (n = 83) was the most used database followed by NCDB (n = 28). The most common pathologies included glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) (n = 67), with the next category including mixes of grades II to IV glioma (n = 31). Common study themes involved evaluation of descriptive epidemiological trends, prognostic factors, comparison of different pathologies, and evaluation of outcome trends over time. Persistent health care disparities in patient outcomes were frequently seen depending on race, marital status, insurance status, hospital volume, and location, which did not change over time. Most studies showed improvement in survival because of advances in surgical and adjuvant treatments.

Conclusions This study helps summarize the use of clinical administrative databases in gliomas research, informing on socioeconomic issues, surgical outcomes, and adjuvant treatments over time on a national level. Large databases allow for some study questions that would not be possible with single institution data; however, limitations remain in data curation, analysis, and reporting methods.

Survival outcome and prognostic factors in anaplastic oligodendroglioma: a single-institution study of 95 cases

The aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic factors including surgical, radiographic, and histopathologic analyses in anaplastic oligodendroglioma (AO) patients. We reviewed the electronic records of 95 patients who underwent surgery and were diagnosed with AO for 20 years. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Univariate and multivariable analyses included clinical, histopathological, and radiographic prognostic factors. Subgroup analysis was performed in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH1/2)-mutant and 1p/19q-codeleted patients. The median PFS and OS were 24.7 months and 50.8 months, respectively. The 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year PFS were 75.8%, 42.9%, 32.4%, and 16.4%, respectively. Furthermore, the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year OS were 98.9%, 76.9%, 42.9%, and 29.7%, respectively. The median PFS and OS of the IDH1/2-mutant and 1p/19q-codeleted patients were 54.2 and 57.8 months, respectively. In univariate analyses, young age, frontal lobe, weak enhancement, gross total resection (GTR), low Ki-67 index, 1p/19q codeletion, and IDH1/2 mutations were associated with a favorable outcome. In multivariable analyses, IDH1/2 mutation was related to better PFS and OS. In subgroup analysis, GTR was associated with favorable outcomes.

Prognostic factors associated with survival in patients with anaplastic oligodendroglioma

Anaplastic oligodendroglioma is a rare disease with an inadequately understood prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with survival outcome in anaplastic oligodendroglioma patients. A population-based cohort study was conducted based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. In total, 1899 patients with a histological diagnosis of anaplastic oligodendroglioma from 1973 to 2015 were included. Mean age at diagnosis was 49.2 years, and 56.19% were male. In our study, 62.40% of patients were married, and 87.05% were white. Most patients (90.42%) were diagnosed with anaplastic oligodendroglioma as their first malignant primary tumor, but 9.58% had a diagnosis of at least one other primary malignancy; 87.89% of patients had received cancer-directed surgery. Patients receiving surgery had a better prognosis for overall survival compared to those not receiving surgery after propensity score matching analysis (p<0.05). The overall 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year survival of anaplastic oligodendroglioma was 78.7%, 60%, 50.2%, and 36.2%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that age, marital status, presence of multiple primary malignancies, and surgical treatment were associated with overall survival, whereas sex and race were not. Moreover, age at diagnosis of 52 years was calculated as an optimal cutoff value to distinguish better and worse overall survival. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis indicated that older age (OR 1.040, 95%CI1.035-1.045), single patients (OR 1.293, 95%CI 1.103-1.515), and presence of multiple primary malignancies (OR 1.501, 95%CI 1.238-1.820) were significantly associated with worse overall survival, whereas surgery (OR 0.584, 95%CI 0.494-0.689) was associated with better overall survival. A nomogram predicting 5-, and 10-year survival probability for anaplastic oligodendroglioma was constructed based on these variables. In conclusion, age, marital status, presence of multiple primary malignancies, and surgical treatment were associated with survival of anaplastic oligodendroglioma.

Patterns of care and outcomes for use of concurrent chemoradiotherapy over radiotherapy alone for anaplastic gliomas

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The role of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for anaplastic gliomas is undefined and patterns of care are under-reported. To address the knowledge gap, we examined use of CRT for grade III gliomas compared to radiotherapy (RT) alone.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In an observational study design cohort from the National Cancer Database, we identified 4437 adult patients receiving surgery followed by either CRT or RT for supratentorial anaplastic glioma in 2003-2011. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to assess factors associated with use of CRT. Overall survival (OS) was assessed by the Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank tests, Cox proportional hazards regression modeling, and propensity score matching.

RESULTS

Receipt of CRT (vs. RT) was associated with recent year of diagnosis (OR for 2011 (vs. 2003) 3.36, 95% CI 2.49-4.54) and having astrocytoma (vs. oligodendroglioma) (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.15-1.63). Patients receiving CRT had a lower adjusted hazard of death (hazard ratio 0.72, 95% CI 0.65-0.79). Outcomes were worse for patients ≥60 (HR 6.94, 95% CI 6.09-7.91) and astrocytomas (HR 2.08, 95% CI 1.85-2.34).

CONCLUSION

Use of concurrent CRT is associated with more recent year of diagnosis and improved survival relative to RT alone.