Hypofractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy Beneficial as Salvage Therapy for Recurrent Low-Grade Glioma
Hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy was well-tolerated and improved
symptoms in patients with recurrent low-grade glioma, according to researchers
from the Kimmel Cancer Center
at Jefferson. The data were presented at the AACR 100th Annual
Meeting 2009. (Abstract #3617)
In a subgroup of patients who also
received chemotherapy with their hypofractionated sterotactic radiotherapy
(H-SRT) the median survival time was more than three times longer than patients
who only received H-SRT alone according to Shannon Fogh, M.D., a resident in
Radiation Oncology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.
The study included 22 patients with
evidence of glioma recurrence. All patients were given H-SRT as salvage therapy,
and nine of the patients also received chemotherapy. The most common regimen was
temozolomide (Temodar).
The median survival time from the time of
H-SRT was nine months. Eleven of the patients had a response to treatment at
six-week follow-up. In the subset of patients who received chemotherapy, the
median survival time from time of H-SRT was 17 months vs. four months for
patients who only received H-SRT.
The role of chemotherapy needs to be
evaluated further, Dr. Fogh said, since the small number of patients in this
study prevented a multivariate analysis that would account for age, performance
status and tumor size.
“There really is no standard of care for
recurrent gliomas,” Dr. Fogh said. “H-SRT would be an attractive option because
it allows a patient to have a shorter course of treatment. In our study, H-SRT
was well-tolerated, and all patients were able to complete the full course of
treatment.”
Media Only Contact:
Emily Shafer
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Phone: (215) 955-6300
Published: 4/22/2009