Adult supratentorial low-grade glioma: long-term experience at a single institution.
OBJECTIVE
To report the long-term follow-up of a cohort of adult patients with supratentorial low-grade glioma treated at a single institution.


METHODS
A cohort of 145 adult patients treated at the London Regional Cancer Program between 1979 and 1995 was reviewed.


RESULTS
With a median follow-up of 105 months, the median progression-free survival was 61 months (95% confidence interval, 53-77), and the median overall survival was 118 months (95% confidence interval, 93-129). The 10- and 20-year progression-free and overall survival rate was 18% and 0% and 48% and 22%, respectively. Cox regression analysis confirmed the importance of age, histologic type, presence of seizures, Karnofsky performance status, and initial extent of surgery as prognostic variables for overall and cause-specific survival. Function among long-term survivors without tumor progression was good to excellent for most patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-grade glioma is a chronic disease, with most patients dying of their disease. However, long-term survival with good function is possible. Survival is determined primarily by the disease factors with selection and timing of adjuvant treatments having less influence on outcome.
Bauman
Glenn
G
Department of Oncology, London Health Sciences Center, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada. glenn.bauman@lhsc.on.ca
Fisher
Barbara
B
Watling
Christopher
C
Cairncross
J Gregory
JG
Macdonald
David
D
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009837:Oligodendroglioma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology; D015173:Supratentorial Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult