Concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide of newly diagnosed glioblastoma in elderly patients

Optimizing Postoperative Adjuvant Therapy in Elderly Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma: Single-Institution Audit of Clinical Outcomes from a Tertiary-Care Comprehensive Cancer Center in India

BACKGROUND

There is lack of consensus regarding optimal adjuvant therapy in elderly glioblastoma (GBM). We have been treating elderly (≥60 years) GBM patients with normofractionated or hypofractionated radiotherapy (RT) plus temozolomide (TMZ) based on Karnofsky performance status (KPS). Herein we report clinical outcomes in this cohort treated at our institute using this approach.

METHODS

Medical records of elderly GBM patients (≥60 years) treated between 2013 and 2017 with either normofractionated RT (59.4-60 Gy/30-33 fractions/6-6.5 weeks) or hypofractionated RT (35 Gy/10 fractions/2 weeks) plus TMZ were reviewed retrospectively. Outcomes of interest included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and ≥grade 3 myelotoxicity. Time-to-event outcomes were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier methods, compared using log-rank test, and reported as point estimates with 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

The normofractionated cohort (n = 126) was characterized by a higher proportion of patients younger than age 65 years, KPS ≥70, methylated O⁶-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), and receiving adjuvant TMZ including extended adjuvant TMZ (>6 cycles) compared with the hypofractionated cohort (n = 20), confirming selection bias. At a median follow-up of 13 months, 1-year Kaplan-Meier estimates of PFS and OS were 43% (95% CI: 36%-52%) and 56% (95% CI: 48%-64%), yielding median PFS and OS of 11.0 months and 13.1 months, respectively. Higher KPS, methylated MGMT, normofractionated RT, and extended adjuvant TMZ emerged as favorable prognostic factors. TMZ was well tolerated with a low risk of ≥grade 3 myelotoxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our single-institution clinical audit confirms poor survival in elderly GBM with suboptimal performance status but demonstrates acceptably fair outcomes in patients with preserved KPS comparable with the nonelderly cohort.

Congress of neurological surgeons systematic review and evidence-based guidelines update on the role of chemotherapeutic management and antiangiogenic treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma in adults

QUESTION

What is the role of temozolomide in the management of adult patients (aged 65 and under) with newly diagnosed glioblastoma?

TARGET POPULATION

These recommendations apply to adult patients diagnosed with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

RECOMMENDATION

Level I: Concurrent and post-irradiation Temozolomide (TMZ) in combination with radiotherapy and post-radiotherapy as described by Stupp et al. is recommended to improve both PFS and OS in adult patients with newly diagnosed GBM. There is no evidence that alterations in the dosing regimen have additional beneficial effect.

QUESTION

Is there benefit to adjuvant temozolomide treatment in elderly patients (> 65 years old?).

TARGET POPULATION

These recommendations apply to adult patients diagnosed with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

RECOMMENDATION

Level III: Adjuvant TMZ treatment is suggested as a treatment option to improve PFS and OS in adult patients (over 70 years of age) with newly diagnosed GBM.

QUESTION

What is the role of local regional chemotherapy with BCNU biodegradable polymeric wafers in adult patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma?

TARGET POPULATION

These recommendations apply to adult patients diagnosed with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

RECOMMENDATION

Level III: There is insufficient evidence for the use of BCNU wafers following resection in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma who undergo the Stupp protocol after surgery. Further studies of higher quality are suggested to understand the role of BCNU wafer and other locoregional therapy in the setting of Stupp Protocol.

QUESTION

What is the role of bevacizumab in the adult patient with newly diagnosed glioblastoma?

TARGET POPULATION

These recommendations apply to adult patients diagnosed with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

RECOMMENDATION

Level I: Bevacizumab in general is not recommended in the initial treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed GBM. It continues to be strongly recommended that patients with newly diagnosed GBM be enrolled in properly designed clinical trials to assess the benefit of novel chemotherapeutic agents compared to standard therapy.

Survival analysis of patients with glioblastoma treated by long-term administration of temozolomide

This analysis aimed to investigate whether the long-term administration of temozolomide (TMZ) claimed a survival advantage for patients with glioblastoma in China.A total of 75 patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Shenzhen People's Hospital between August 2008 and August 2016 were retrospectively evaluated during analysis. A propensity-matched analysis was performed to balance the basic characteristics of patients between compared groups. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model were used to assess progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients receiving 6 adjuvant TMZ cycles compared with patients treated with more than 6 cycles.Twenty of 75 patients received more than 6 cycles of TMZ, and the other 55 patients were treated with a median of 6 cycles ranging from 1 to 6. The patients with long-term administration of TMZ had better OS (47.0 months, 95% CI 20.0-73.9 vs 20.6 months, 95% CI 17.9-23.2, P = .014) but not PFS (17.0 months, 95% CI 10.1-24.5 vs 14.2 months, 95% CI 11.8-16.6, P = .133). Balancing the clinical factors with a propensity-matched analysis also showed the significant advantage of prolonged TMZ application in terms of OS but not PFS.Prolonged administration of TMZ beyond 6 cycles did demonstrate survival benefits for patients with initially diagnosed glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma in Elderly Patients: Current Management and Future Perspectives

The incidence of glioblastoma (GBM) in the elderly population is slowly increasing in Western countries. Current management includes surgery, radiation therapy (RT) and chemotherapy; however, survival is significantly worse than that observed in younger patients and the optimal treatment in terms of efficacy and safety remains a matter of debate. Surgical resection is often employed as initial treatment for elderly patients with GBM, although the survival benefit is modest. Better survival has been reported in elderly patients treated with RT compared with those receiving supportive care alone, with similar survival outcome for patients undergoing standard RT (60 Gy over 6 weeks) and hypofractionated RT (25⁻40 Gy in 5⁻15 daily fractions). Temozolomide, an alkylating agent, may represent an effective and safe therapy in patients with promoter methylation of O⁶-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) gene which is predictor of responsiveness to alkylating agents. An abbreviated course of RT, 40 Gy in 15 daily fractions in combination with adjuvant and concomitant temozolomide has emerged as an effective treatment for patients aged 65 years old or over with GBM. Results of the National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group (NCIC CTG CE6) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC 26062/22061) randomized study of short-course RT with or without concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide have demonstrated a significant improvement in progression-free survival and overall survival for patients receiving RT and temozolomide over RT alone, without impairing either quality of life or functional status. Although combined chemoradiation has become the recommended treatment in fit elderly patients with GBM, several questions remain unanswered, including the survival impact of chemoradiation in patients with impaired neurological status, advanced age (>75⁻80 years old), or for those with severe comorbidities. In addition, the efficacy and safety of alternative therapeutic approaches according to the methylation status of the O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyl-transferase (MGMT) gene promoter need to be explored in future trials.

Management of elderly patients with glioblastoma-multiforme-a systematic review

The management of elderly patients with glioblastoma-multiforme (GBM) remains poorly defined with many experts in the past advocating best supportive care, in view of limited evidence on efficacy of more aggressive treatment protocols. There is randomised evidence (NORDIC and NA-O8 studies) to support the use of surgery followed by adjuvant monotherapy with either radiotherapy (RT) using hypofractionated regimes (e.g. 36 Gy in 6 fractions OR 40 Gy in 15 fractions) or chemotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ) in patients expressing methylation of promoter for O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase enzyme. However, the role of combined-modality therapy involving the use of combined RT and TMZ protocols has remained controversial with data from the EORTC (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer)-NCIC (National Cancer Institute of Canada) studies indicating that patients more than 65 years of age may not benefit significantly from combining standard RT fractionation using 60 Gy in 30 fractions with concurrent and adjuvant TMZ. More recently, randomised data has emerged on combining hypofractionated RT with concurrent and adjuvant TMZ. We provide a comprehensive review of literature with the aim of defining an evidence-based algorithm for management of elderly glioblastoma-multiforme population.

Radiation therapy for older patients with brain tumors

The incidence of brain tumors in the elderly population has increased over the last few decades. Current treatment includes surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but the optimal management of older patients with brain tumors remains a matter of debate, since aggressive radiation treatments in this population may be associated with high risks of neurological toxicity and deterioration of quality of life. For such patients, a careful clinical status assessment is mandatory both for clinical decision making and for designing randomized trials to adequately evaluate the optimal combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Several randomized studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy for patients with glioblastoma or lymphoma; however, the use of radiotherapy given in association with chemotherapy or as salvage therapy remains an effective treatment option associated with survival benefit. Stereotactic techniques are increasingly used for the treatment of patients with brain metastases and benign tumors, including pituitary adenomas, meningiomas and acoustic neuromas. Although no randomized trials have proven the superiority of SRS over other radiation techniques in older patients with brain metastases or benign brain tumors, data extracted from recent randomized studies and large retrospective series suggest that SRS is an effective approach in such patients associated with survival advantages and toxicity profile similar to those observed in young adults. Future trials need to investigate the optimal radiation techniques and dose/fractionation schedules in older patients with brain tumors with regard to clinical outcomes, neurocognitive function, and quality of life.

Pattern of care and outcome in elderly patients with glioblastoma: Data in 151 patients from 3 Lombardia Hospitals

The appropriate treatment approach for elderly patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is unclear, although different studies suggest survival benefit in fit patients treated with radiotherapy and chemiotherapy after surgery. We performed a retrospective analysis of 151 patients older than 65years with GBM treated in 3 Lombardia Hospitals. In univariate regression analysis higher KPS (p=0.02), macroscopical total resection (p<0.003), radiotherapy (p<0.0001), chemotherapy (p<0.0001) and second line chemotheraphy (p=0.02) were of positive prognostic value. On the contrary older age (>70years), presence of seizure at onset and additional resection after tumor recurrence did not influence OS. Multivariate analysis revealed radiotherapy (HR 0.2 p<0.0001) and extent of surgery (HR 0.3, p=0,0063) as positive independent prognostic factors. Patients receiving radio-chemiotherapy displayed more treatment-related toxicities with a slightly prolonged OS versus those receiving hypofractionated radiotherapy. With the limits of a retrospective study, our data suggest that in elderly fit patients extensive surgery should be considered, moreover adjuvant treatments led to an increase in OS. Randomized controlled study are needed to develop treatment guidelines for elderly GBM patients and to assess whether the combination of post-surgical radio and chemiotherapy may be superior to hypofractionated radiotherapy and chemiotherapy in fit patients.

Impact of standard care on elderly glioblastoma patients

Background

Uncertainty persists about the survival advantage of concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ) plus radiotherapy (RT) in elderly patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM). We compared the clinical outcome of unselected elderly GBM patients treated with 4 adjuvant treatment modalities, including the Stupp protocol.

Methods

From 2010 to 2014, retrospective chart review was performed on 171 GBM patients aged ≥55 who received either concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) with standard 60 Gy/30 (SRT); CCRT with hypofractionated 40 Gy/15 (HRT); HRT alone; or TMZ alone. Stratification is by age (55-69, ≥70), KPS (<70, ≥70), and resection status (biopsy, resection).

Results

Out of 171 patients identified, 128(75%) had surgical resection, median age was 66(55-83), and median overall survival (mOS) 11.4mo. Majority (109/171) were treated according to the Stupp protocol (CCRT-SRT), and 106/171 received post-CCRT adjuvant TMZ (median of 3 cycles). In our population, age <70yo was a significant prognostic factor (mOS of patients aged 55-69 vs ≥70 yo = 13.3 vs 6.6 mo; P = .001). However, among the population receiving the Stupp regimen, there was no difference in survival between patients aged 55-69 and those ≥70 (respectively, 14.4 vs 13.2 mo; P = .798). Patients ≥70 yo had similar survival when treated with CCRT-HRT and CCRT-SRT (P = .248), although numbers were small.

Conclusions

Our data suggests that, despite having a worse global prognostic than their younger counterparts, GBM patients ≥70yo with a good performance status could be treated according to the Stupp protocol with similar survival. Theses results need prospective confirmation.

Impact of concurrent chemotherapy with radiation therapy for elderly patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma: a review of the National Cancer Data Base

To investigate the utilization and overall survival (OS) impact of concurrent chemotherapy in combination with radiation therapy (RT) for elderly glioblastoma (GBM) patients. Elderly patients (age >70) with supratentorial and nonmetastatic GBM who received RT of 20-75 Gy with concurrent single-agent chemotherapy (ChemoRT) or without (RT alone) during 2004-2012 were identified from the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB). The Cochran-Armitage test was used for trend analysis. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined using Cox proportional hazards. Propensity score analysis was performed to reduce selection bias in treatment allocation. A total of 5252 patients were identified (RT alone: n = 1389; ChemoRT: n = 3863). There was increasing utilization of chemotherapy during this period (45-80%, P < .001). A similar trend was also observed for the subset of age >80 (25-68%, P < .001). ChemoRT was associated with significantly better OS than RT alone (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.70-0.89, P < .001) on multivariate analysis, and similar OS benefit was demonstrated with 1202 pairs of propensity-matched patients (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.73-0.86, P < .001). For the matched pair, the median OS was 5.8 months with ChemoRT and 5.0 months with RT alone; the 2-year OS rate was 9% with ChemoRT and 4% with RT alone (P < .001). Concurrent chemotherapy has been administered with RT for the majority of elderly GBM patients. Addition of chemotherapy to RT for elderly GBM patients is associated with significantly improve OS in routine clinical practice.

Glioblastoma in the elderly: Therapeutic dilemmas

Background:

Glioblastoma (GBM) is commonly diagnosed in patients older than 60 years, but the treatment protocols are mostly based on trials in patients aged up to 70 years. These lead to little consensus and to an absence of protocols regarding the standard treatments. The objective of this study is to analyze the prognostic factors, treatment efficacy, and adverse events in a cohort of elderly patients.

Methods:

A retrospective observational study of all patients aged ≥65 with histologically confirmed GBM followed at Centro Hospitalar S. João between 2005 and 2013. Demographic, clinical, radiographic, treatment, and outcome data were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

Results:

A total of 126 patients were reviewed. Median progression-free survival was 5 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.138 to 5.862 months). Median overall survival (OS) was 8 months (95% CI, 5.950 to 10.050 months). Univariate analysis showed the statistically significant associations between the higher OS and age <70 (P = 0.046), Karnofsky performance status ≥70 (P = 0.001), single lesions (P = 0.007), lesions affecting one lobe (P = 0.007), total resection (P = 0.048), and Charlson age-comorbidity index ≤5. Multivariate analysis identified the completion of 60 Gy radiotherapy and completion of 6 or more cycles of temozolomide chemotherapy as independent prognostic factors positively correlated with increased survival.

Conclusions:

Maximal resection and radiochemotherapy treatment completion are associated with longer OS, and age alone should not preclude elderly patients from receiving surgery and adjuvant treatment. However, only a few patients were able to finish the proposed treatments. Poor performance and high comorbidity index status might compromise the benefit of treatment aggressiveness and must be considered in therapeutic decision.

Predictors of survival and effect of short (40 Gy) or standard-course (60 Gy) irradiation plus concomitant temozolomide in elderly patients with glioblastoma: a multicenter retrospective study of AINO (Italian Association of Neuro-Oncology)

The efficacy of temozolomide (TMZ) plus radiation therapy (RT) in elderly patients with glioblastoma is unclear. We performed a large multicenter retrospective study to analyze prognostic factors and clinical outcome in these patients. Inclusion criteria were age ≥65 years, newly histologically confirmed glioblastoma, ECOG PS 0-2, adjuvant treatment with RT plus TMZ. We enrolled 237 patients; the average age was 71 and ECOG PS was 0-1 in 196 patients; gross total resection was performed in 174 cases. MGMT was analyzed in 151 persons and was methylated in 56 %. IDH1 was assessed in 100 patients and was mutated in 6 %. Seventy-one patients were treated with RT 40 Gy and 166 with RT 60 Gy. Progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) were 11.3 and 17.3 months, respectively. Overall survival was 19.4 vs 13.8 months for patients treated with RT 60 Gy and 40 Gy (p = 0.02); OS was 17.7 versus 16.1 months for patients treated with gross total resection vs partial surgery (p = 0.02); OS was 21.2 versus 13.6 months for methylated and unmethylated MGMT (p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, gross total resection, RT 60 Gy, methylated MGMT and ECOG PS 0-1 were independent predictors of longer survival. Twenty-five patients (10 %) had grade 3-4 haematological toxicity during the concomitant treatment. We showed that, in elderly patients in good clinical condition treated with concomitant treatment, standard-course irradiation might be more effective than short-course irradiation. Methylated MGMT remains the most important prognostic factor.

The future of high-grade glioma: Where we are and where are we going

High-grade glioma (HGG) are optimally treated with maximum safe surgery, followed by radiotherapy (RT) and/or systemic chemotherapy (CT). Recently, the treatment of newly diagnosed anaplastic glioma (AG) has changed, particularly in patients with 1p19q codeleted tumors. Results of trials currenlty ongoing are likely to determine the best standard of care for patients with noncodeleted AG tumors. Trials in AG illustrate the importance of molecular characterization, which are germane to both prognosis and treatment. In contrast, efforts to improve the current standard of care of newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GB) with, for example, the addition of bevacizumab (BEV), have been largely disappointing and furthermore molecular characterization has not changed therapy except in elderly patients. Novel approaches, such as vaccine-based immunotherapy, for newly diagnosed GB are currently being pursued in multiple clinical trials. Recurrent disease, an event inevitable in nearly all patients with HGG, continues to be a challenge. Both recurrent GB and AG are managed in similar manner and when feasible re-resection is often suggested notwithstanding limited data to suggest benefit from repeat surgery. Occassional patients may be candidates for re-irradiation but again there is a paucity of data to commend this therapy and only a minority of selected patients are eligible for this approach. Consequently systemic therapy continues to be the most often utilized treatment in recurrent HGG. Choice of therapy, however, varies and revolves around re-challenge with temozolomide (TMZ), use of a nitrosourea (most often lomustine; CCNU) or BEV, the most frequently used angiogenic inhibitor. Nevertheless, no clear standard recommendation regarding the prefered agent or combination of agents is avaliable. Prognosis after progression of a HGG remains poor, with an unmet need to improve therapy.

Standard (60 Gy) or short-course (40 Gy) irradiation plus concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide for elderly patients with glioblastoma: a propensity-matched analysis

PURPOSE

To evaluate 2 specific radiation schedules, each combined with temozolomide (TMZ), assessing their efficacy and safety in patients aged ≥65 years with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Patients aged ≥65 years with Karnofsky performance status (KPS) ≥60 who received either standard (60 Gy) or short-course (40 Gy) radiation therapy (RT) with concomitant and adjuvant TMZ between June 2004 and October 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. A propensity score analysis was executed for a balanced comparison of treatment outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 127 patients received standard RT-TMZ, whereas 116 patients underwent short-course RT-TMZ. Median overall survival and progression-free survival times were similar: 12 months and 5.6 months for the standard RT-TMZ group and 12.5 months and 6.7 months for the short-course RT-TMZ group, respectively. Radiation schedule was associated with similar survival outcomes in either unadjusted or adjusted analysis. O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase promoter methylation was the most favorable prognostic factor (P=.0001). Standard RT-TMZ therapy was associated with a significant rise in grade 2 and 3 neurologic toxicity (P=.01), lowering of KPS scores during the study (P=.01), and higher posttreatment dosing of corticosteroid (P=.02).

CONCLUSIONS

In older adults with GBM, survival outcomes of standard and short-course RT-TMZ were similar. An abbreviated course of RT plus TMZ may represent a reasonable therapeutic approach for these patients, without loss of survival benefit and acceptable toxicity.

Radiation therapy for older adults with glioblastoma: radical treatment, palliative treatment, or no treatment at all?

The incidence of glioblastoma in older adults has increased over the last few decades. Current treatment includes surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, but optimal disease management remains a matter of debate. Both standard (60 Gy in 30 daily fractions) and hypofractionated radiotherapy (30-40 Gy in 10-15 daily fractions) have been employed with a similar survival benefit. Recent randomized studies indicate that chemotherapy with the alkylating agent temozolomide is a safe and effective therapeutic option for patients aged 60 years or older with newly diagnosed glioblastoma, suggesting that it should be a sufficient treatment for patients presenting with a methylated O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter gene. The addition of concomitant temozolomide chemotherapy, adjuvant temozolomide chemotherapy, or both to postoperative radiotherapy, which is the standard treatment for adults with glioblastoma, has been associated with a survival benefit for older patients with a good performance status; however, aggressive treatment in this population may be associated with a high risk of neurological toxicity and deterioration of quality of life. Survival stratification according to age, MGMT promoter methylation status, and neurological status may be useful for clinical decision making and designing randomized trials for adequately evaluating the optimal combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy for older patients with glioblastoma.

Treatment of glioblastoma in elderly patients

Although glioblastoma occurs mostly in elderly patients, there is a paucity of trials addressing patients older than 70 years of age. Age, by itself, constitutes an unfavorable prognostic factor, which is probably due to unpropitious genetic features, but also due to iatrogenic defeatism. However, many retrospective studies report a survival benefit achieved by aggressive surgical resection seeking gross total removal of contrast-enhancing tumor according to preoperative MRI. Combined radiochemotherapy with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide has not been investigated in prospective trials. Numerous retrospective studies and a meta-analysis suggest benefit from combined treatment. Prospective randomized trials only evaluated either temozolomide or radiotherapy. Single-treatment hypofractionated radiotherapy performed superior to conventional fractionation. In patients with methylated MGMT promoter, first-line dose-dense temozolomide facilitates prolonged survival. However, there is no comparison with combined radiochemotherapy as the standard-of-care in adult patients. Comorbidity is more frequent in elderly patients, but does not correlate with preterm termination of temozolomide treatment. This review article compiles data proposing a straightforward glioblastoma treatment, irrespective of age.

Elderly patients aged 65-75 years with glioblastoma multiforme may benefit from long course radiation therapy with temozolomide

To determine the outcome of elderly patients with glioblastoma managed with hypofractionated [40 Gray (Gy)] or long-course (60 Gy) radiation therapy (RT). Patients aged >60 years diagnosed with WHO grade IV glioma managed with RT between October 2006 and July 2012 were retrospectively identified. Baseline data including ECOG performance status, RT dose and use of temozolomide (TMZ) were recorded. Overall survival was calculated in months from date of diagnosis. 109 patients were included with age distribution from 61 to 88 years (13 % <65, 63 % 65-75, and 24 % >75). Median survival (MS) of total group was 12 months (95 % CI 11-13) with 12 % surviving beyond 2 years. For age groups <65, 65-75, >75 the survival was 17, 12, and 9 months respectively (p = 0.001). Near total resection (p = 0.027), but not ECOG 0-1 (p = 0.34) was associated with improved MS. For the 69 patients aged 65-75, 55 % were managed with 40 Gy and 45 % 60 Gy. Longer survival was associated with the use of 60 Gy (15 vs. 9 months, p < 0.0001), and use of TMZ (13 vs. 7 months, p < 0.0001). In the 48 patients (70 %) managed with TMZ, the MS was 15 months with 60 Gy (95 % CI 13-17) compared with 11 months (95 % CI 9-13) in those with 40 Gy. Performance status with ECOG 0-1 was not associated with improved survival (p = 0.25). Within the limitations of a retrospective study, we demonstrate improved MS in the elderly population when TMZ is added to RT. Those in the age group 65-75 may benefit from long-course RT with TMZ.

Assessment and treatment relevance in elderly glioblastoma patients

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant primary brain tumor. Its incidence continues to increase in the elderly because the older segment of the population is growing faster than any other age group. Most clinical studies exclude elderly patients, and "standards of care" do not exist for GBM patients aged >70 years. We review epidemiology, tumor biology/molecular factors, prognostic factors (clinical, imaging data, therapeutics), and their assessments as well as classic and specific endpoints plus recent and ongoing clinical trials for elderly GBM patients. This work includes perspectives and personal opinions on this topic. Although there are no standards of care for elderly GBM patients, we can hypothesize that (i) Karnofsky performance status (KPS), probably after steroid treatment, is one of the most important clinical factors for determining our oncological strategy; (ii) resection is superior to biopsy, at least in selected patients (depending on location of the tumor and associated comorbidities); (iii) specific schedules of radiotherapy yield a modest but significant improvement; (iv) temozolomide has an acceptable tolerance, even when KPS <70, and could be proposed for methylated elderly GBM patients; and (v) the addition of concomitant temozolomide to radiotherapy has not yet been validated but shows promising results in some studies, yet the optimal schedule of radiotherapy remains to be determined. In the future, specific assessments (geriatric, imaging, biology) and use of new endpoints (quality of life and toxicity measures) will aid clinicians in determining the balance of potential benefits and risks of each oncological strategy.

Apoptosis therapy in cancer: the first single-molecule co-activating p53 and the translocator protein in glioblastoma

In the complex scenario of cancer, treatment with compounds targeting multiple cell pathways has been emerging. In Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), p53 and Translocator Protein (TSPO), both acting as apoptosis inducers, represent two attractive intracellular targets. On this basis, novel indolylglyoxylyldipeptides, rationally designed to activate TSPO and p53, were synthesized and biologically characterized. The new compounds were able to bind TSPO and to reactivate p53 functionality, through the dissociation from its physiological inhibitor, murine double minute 2 (MDM2). In GBM cells, the new molecules caused Δψm dissipation and inhibition of cell viability. These effects resulted significantly higher with respect to those elicited by the single target reference standards applied alone, and coherent with the synergism resulting from the simultaneous activation of TSPO and p53. Taken together, these results suggest that TSPO/MDM2 dual-target ligands could represent a new attractive multi-modal opportunity for anti-cancer strategy in GBM.