Objective response to radiation therapy and long-term survival of patients with WHO grade II astrocytic gliomas with known LOH 1p/19q status.
BACKGROUND
WHO grade II gliomas are often approached by radiation therapy (RT). However, little is known about tumor response and its potential impact on long-term survival.


METHODS
Patients subjected to RT were selected from the own database of WHO grade II gliomas diagnosed between 1991 and 2000. The volumetric tumor response after RT was assessed based on magnetic resonance imaging and graded according to standard criteria as complete, partial (PR, >or= 50%), or minor (MR, 25% to <50%).


RESULTS
There were 24 astrocytomas and three oligoastrocytomas. 21 patients (78%) were dead at follow-up (mean survival 74 months). None of the patients had chemotherapy. Objective response occurred in 14 patients (52%, five PR and nine MR) but was not associated with overall survival. The vast majority of the tumors had no loss of heterozygosity (LOH) 1p and/or 19q (86%).


CONCLUSIONS
Approximately 50% of patients with astrocytic WHO grade II gliomas respond to RT despite the absence of LOH for 1p/19q. The potential predictive factors for response and the impact of response on overall survival remain unclear.
Fathi
Ali-Reza
AR
Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, Inselspital Bern, Switzerland.
Vassella
Erik
E
Arnold
Marlene
M
Curschmann
Jürgen
J
Reinert
Michael
M
Vajtai
Istvan
I
Weis
Joachim
J
Deiana
Gianluca
G
Mariani
Luigi
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002878:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002888:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19 / Q000528:radiation effects*; D016371:Cranial Irradiation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015173:Supratentorial Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D017741:Survivors