Survival of patients treated with radiation therapy for anaplastic astrocytoma Journal Article


Authors: Barker, C. A.; Chang, M.; Beal, K.; Chan, T. A.
Article Title: Survival of patients treated with radiation therapy for anaplastic astrocytoma
Abstract: Background: Anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) represents 7% of primary brain tumors in adults. Patient-, tumor-, and treatment-related factors are thought to be predictive of survival. We retrospectively assessed the association of patient-, tumor-, and treatment-related factors with survival in AA treated with radiotherapy (RT) at our institution. Patients and methods. Medical records of patients with AA treated with RT between 1987 and 2007 were reviewed. Patient-, tumor-, and treatment-related variables were recorded and used to assign patients to a Radiation Therapy Oncology Group recursive partitioning analysis (RTOG RPA) classification. First use of chemotherapy was recorded. Log-rank tests and Cox regression models were used to assess for an association of patient-, tumor- and treatment-related factors with survival. Results. One-hundred twenty-six patients were eligible for study. Median age, Karnofsky performance status, and duration of symptoms were 43 years, 90, and 8 weeks. Median radiation dose was 59.4 Gy; 61% of patients underwent tumor resection, and 17% and 41% of patients received temozolomide during and after RT. Median survival was 31 months, and 2-year survival was 58%. RTOG RPA class was associated with survival (p < 0.001), but use of temozolomide during or after RT was not (p > 0.05). Conclusions. In this retrospective study with inherent limitations, RTOG RPA classification was associated with survival. Further studies are necessary to confirm or refute this finding.
Keywords: adult; cancer chemotherapy; cancer survival; aged; middle aged; cancer surgery; major clinical study; overall survival; fatigue; neutropenia; cancer radiotherapy; radiation dose; temozolomide; follow up; nausea; vomiting; retrospective study; carmustine; acute lymphoblastic leukemia; cause of death; karnofsky performance status; glioblastoma; radiation therapy; cognitive defect; disease duration; headache; alopecia; chemoradiation therapy; anaplastic astrocytoma; prognosis; human; article; radiation therapy oncology group recursive partitioning analysis (rtog rpa); temozolomide (tmz)
Journal Title: Radiology and Oncology
Volume: 48
Issue: 4
ISSN: 1318-2099
Publisher: Assoc Radiology & Oncology  
Date Published: 2014-12-01
Start Page: 381
End Page: 386
Language: English
DOI: 10.2478/raon-2014-0019
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC4230558
PUBMED: 25435851
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 4 May 2015 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Timothy Chan
    317 Chan
  2. Kathryn Beal
    221 Beal
  3. Christopher Barker
    218 Barker
  4. Maria Chang
    10 Chang