title: Anaplastic astrocytoma in adults.
abstract: Anaplastic astrocytoma is an uncommon disease in the adult population. Prognosis is influenced by age, symptom duration, mental status and Karnofsky performance status. A truly complete resection, which is a recognized independent prognostic factor, is not possible and recurrence in the surgical cavity is common. Based on randomized data available, chemotherapy has consistently failed to improve the outcome of patients with anaplastic astrocytoma, while a meta-analysis showed a small, but significant improvement in survival favouring the use of chemotherapy. Outside a clinical trial, postoperative radiotherapy (30 x 2 Gy) remains the standard adjuvant therapy for most patients. For elderly patients, the application of treatment is usually based on performance status and neurological function. In recurrent disease, chemotherapy with temozolomide has been proven to be active and well-tolerated in phase II trials, but no comparative phase III trials of other cytotoxic drugs have been conducted.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland. Roger.Stupp@chuv.ch
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stupp
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reni
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gatta
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vecht
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D000077204:Temozolomide
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D003606:Dacarbazine; D000077204:Temozolomide