Reduction of health status 7 years after addition of chemotherapy to craniospinal irradiation for medulloblastoma: a follow-up study in PNET 3 trial survivors on behalf of the CCLG (formerly UKCCSG).
OBJECTIVE
To compare quality of survival after craniospinal irradiation (CSI) alone with survival after CSI plus chemotherapy (CT) for medulloblastoma.


METHODS
Follow-up study of surviving UK patients with medulloblastoma diagnosed between 1992 and 2000 treated according to one or other treatment arm of the PNET 3 controlled trial.


RESULTS
Seventy three percent of all 147 eligible patients ages 6.6 to 24.3 years were assessed at a mean of 7.2 years after diagnosis. Health status was significantly poorer in the group treated in the CSI plus CT arm of the trial than in the CSI alone arm, and there were also trends to poorer outcomes for behavior and quality of life scores. The CSI plus CT group were also significantly more restricted physically and needed more therapeutic and educational support. Body mass index, stature, and other endocrine outcomes were similar in the two treatment arms, except for the trend in increased frequency of medical induction of puberty in the CSI plus CT group.


CONCLUSIONS
The addition of CT to CSI for medulloblastoma was associated with a significant decrease in health status. The effect of the addition of other CT regimens to CSI on quality of survival should be evaluated.
Bull
Kim S
KS
Department of Child Health and Research and Development Support Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
Spoudeas
Helen A
HA
Yadegarfar
Ghasem
G
Kennedy
Colin R
CR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D017741:Survivors; D016896:Treatment Outcome