Phase II study of topotecan plus cranial radiation for glioblastoma multiforme: results of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 9513.
OBJECTIVE
A Phase II trial was conducted by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) to compare the survival of patients with glioblastoma multiforme treated with topotecan combined with standard cranial radiotherapy (RT) for matched patients treated in prior RTOG studies. A secondary objective was to document the acute and late toxicities of this combination of chemotherapy and RT.


METHODS
Eighty-seven patients with histologically confirmed glioblastoma multiforme received standard cranial RT (60 Gy/30 fractions in 6 weeks) plus topotecan 1.5 mg/m2 per day i.v. for 5 d/wk every 3 weeks for 3 cycles. Eighty-four patients were evaluated, of whom 60 (71%) were > or =50 years, 44 (52%) were men, and 61 (73%) had a Karnofsky performance status of > or =80. Twenty-nine percent of patients had undergone biopsies, 48% partial resections, and 21% gross total resections. Two resections were unspecified as to the extent of tumor removal. Fourteen percent of patients were recursive partitioning analysis Class III, 46% were Class IV, 35% were Class V, and 5% were Class VI.


RESULTS
The median survival was 9.3 months. Sixty-seven patients (80%) had progression. The 1-year survival rate was 32%. One patient remained alive without recurrence. RTOG 9513 patients were matched with patients in an RTOG clinical trial database from previous clinical trials. The matching variables were age, Karnofsky performance status, mental status, and prior surgery. No statistically significant difference was found between the survival of the study patients and that of the matched patients from the RTOG database. Fifty-four percent of patients had Grade IV acute toxicity. The toxicity was primarily hematologic. Four patients had Grade III late central nervous system toxicities.


CONCLUSIONS
Topotecan administered at a dose of 1.5 mg/m2 per day i.v. for 5 d/wk every 3 weeks for 3 cycles given concurrently with standard cranial RT for glioblastoma does not produce a statistically significant survival advantage over previously tested therapies. Other methods of administration of topotecan or other camptothecins may provide more effective radiosensitization.
Fisher
Barbara
B
Department of Radiation Oncology, London Regional Cancer Centre, London, Ontario, Canada. barb.fisher@lrcc.on.ca
Won
M
M
Macdonald
David
D
Johnson
Douglas W
DW
Roa
Wilson
W
D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018316:Gliosarcoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D019772:Topotecan / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019772:Topotecan