Adult patients with supratentorial pilocytic astrocytomas: a prospective multicenter clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
Supratentorial pilocytic astrocytomas in adults are uncommon. A prospective clinical trial was conducted to obtain clinical and outcome data in these patients.


METHODS
Between 1986 and 1994, 20 eligible adults with supratentorial pilocytic astrocytomas were enrolled in a prospective intergroup trial of radiotherapy (RT) after biopsy (3 patients) or observation after gross (11 patients) or subtotal (6 patients) resection.


RESULTS
At the time of analysis (median follow-up, 10 years), 1 patient (5%) had died and 19 patients (95%) were alive. The 5-year progression-free and overall survival rates were 95%. The cause of death in the patient who died (2.1 years after enrollment) was unknown; a radiographic examination obtained shortly before the patient's demise revealed no signs of progression. Progression in 1 patient approximately 1 month after enrollment required injection of (32)P into an enlarging cyst. The patient required RT approximately 18 months later because of further progression. This patient was alive without evidence of progression 9 years after RT. No toxic effects had been recorded at the latest follow-up examinations.


CONCLUSIONS
With follow-up comparable or superior to that in many retrospective studies, the results of this prospective trial confirm that adults with pilocytic astrocytomas have a favorable prognosis with regard to survival and neurologic function. The vast majority of patients remained stable after gross or subtotal resection and no adjuvant therapy. RT need not be offered to adults with supratentorial pilocytic astrocytoma after gross or subtotal resection; instead, close observation is recommended. Because only 3 patients received RT after biopsy, it is difficult to comment on the effect of RT on their outcome as a group.
Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. brown.paul@mayo.edu
Paul D
PD
Brown
Jan C
JC
Buckner
Judith R
JR
O'Fallon
Nancy L
NL
Iturria
Cerise A
CA
Brown
Brian P
BP
O'Neill
Bernd W
BW
Scheithauer
Robert P
RP
Dinapoli
Robert M
RM
Arusell
Ross A
RA
Abrams
Walter J
WJ
Curran
Edward G
EG
Shaw
D000328:Adult; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015173:Supratentorial Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome