Incidence of early pseudo-progression in a cohort of malignant glioma patients treated with chemoirradiation with temozolomide.
BACKGROUND
Radiotherapy (RT) plus concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ) is now the standard of care for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. The occurrence of pseudo-progression directly after RT is a recognized phenomenon, but to the authors' knowledge its incidence after combined RT/TMZ is unknown. The occurrence of early pseudo-progression was retrospectively assessed in a cohort of malignant glioma patients treated with RT/TMZ.


METHODS
The pre-RT and post-RT brain scans from patients treated with RT/TMZ for a malignant glioma were reviewed. Scans were made before the start of RT, 4 weeks after the end of RT, and every 3 months thereafter. In addition, information was collected regarding clinical signs and symptoms, dexamethasone dose, histology, and survival.


RESULTS
Eighty-five patients were identified. In 36 patients (42%) the first follow-up scan 4 weeks after the end of RT indicated disease progression. Of these 36 patients, 18 (50%) were diagnosed with pseudo-progression. None of the patients received additional treatment other than TMZ. Six of 18 patients with pseudo-progression and 12 of the 18 patients with real tumor progression developed new clinical signs and symptoms during RT or in the first 4 weeks thereafter.


CONCLUSIONS
Up to 50% of malignant glioma patients treated with RT/TMZ and progression immediately after RT develop pseudo-progression. The current study data support the idea to continue TMZ in the case of progressive lesions immediately after RT/TMZ. Surgery should be considered in symptomatic cases. The inclusion of patients with progressive lesions developing directly after chemoradiation in studies regarding recurrent gliomas will lead to an overestimation of the results.
Taal
Walter
W
Department of Neuro-Oncology/Neurology, Erasmus MC/Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. w.taal@erasmusmc.nl
Brandsma
Dieta
D
de Bruin
Hein G
HG
Bromberg
Jacoline E
JE
Swaak-Kragten
Annemarie T
AT
Smitt
Peter A E Sillevis
PA
van Es
Corine A
CA
van den Bent
Martin J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D000077204:Temozolomide; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003606:Dacarbazine; D000077204:Temozolomide