title: Clinical variables serve as prognostic factors in a model for survival from glioblastoma multiforme: an observational study of a cohort of consecutive non-selected patients from a single institution.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although implementation of temozolomide (TMZ) as a part of primary therapy for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) has resulted in improved patient survival, the disease is still incurable. Previous studies have correlated various parameters to survival, although no single parameter has yet been identified. More studies and new approaches to identify the best and worst performing patients are therefore in great demand.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study examined 225 consecutive, non-selected GBM patients with performance status (PS) 0-2 receiving postoperative radiotherapy with concomitant and adjuvant TMZ as primary therapy. At relapse, patients with PS 0-2 were mostly treated by reoperation and/or combination with bevacizumab/irinotecan (BEV/IRI), while a few received TMZ therapy if the recurrence-free period was >6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median overall survival and time to progression were 14.3 and 8.0 months, respectively. Second-line therapy indicated that reoperation and/or BEV/IRI increased patient survival compared with untreated patients and that BEV/IRI was more effective than reoperation alone. Patient age, ECOG PS, and use of corticosteroid therapy were significantly correlated with patient survival and disease progression on univariate analysis, whereas p53, epidermal growth factor receptor, and O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase expression (all detected by immunohistochemistry), tumor size or multifocality, and extent of primary operation were not. A model based on age, ECOG PS, and corticosteroids use was able to predict survival probability for an individual patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The survival of RT/TMZ-treated GBM patients can be predicted based on patient age, ECOG PS, and corticosteroid therapy status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Biology, The Finsen Center, Copenhagen University Hospital, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. hans.skovgaard.poulsen@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Signe Regner
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Michaelsen
authors.forename: Ib Jarle
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grunnet
authors.forename: Marie-Thérése
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Stockhausen
authors.forename: Helle
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Broholm
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kosteljanetz
authors.forename: Hans Skovgaard
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Poulsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors; D000077204:Temozolomide; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003606:Dacarbazine; D000077204:Temozolomide