title: Radio-chemotherapy with temozolomide in elderly patients with glioblastoma. A mono-institutional experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the toxicity and clinical outcome of radio-chemotherapy with temozolomide in patients with glioblastoma aged more than 65 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  The analysis was performed in 20 male and 20 female patients with a mean age at diagnosis of 71.2 (range=65-81) years, with Karnofsky performance status greater than 70 without important comorbidities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Toxicities related to temozolomide and concomitant radiochemotherapy were similar to those reported for younger patients. The median time to progression and median overall survival of the entire cohort, from the date of diagnosis, were 10.6 (range=6.7-14.4) months and 19.3 (range=17.8-20.7) months, respectively. No significant results for overall survival analysis were found for age at diagnosis and cardiovascular risk factors, as covariates, with hazard ratios of 1.00 (95% confidence interval=0.92-1.10) and 0.9 (95% confidence interval=0.43-1.88), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the relative good toxicity profile and the efficacy of treatment, our experience supports the use of radiochemotherapy with temozolomide in older patients with glioblastoma.
authors: Radiotherapy Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy francep24@hotmail.com.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Pasqualetti
authors: Radiotherapy Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors: Patrizia
authors: P
authors: Ferrazza
authors: Radiotherapy Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Cocuzza
authors: Radiotherapy Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Fatigante
authors: Geriatrics Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Pasqualetti
authors: Radiotherapy Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors: Maria Grazia
authors: MG
authors: Fabbrini
authors: Geriatrics Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Monzani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077204:Temozolomide
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D003606:Dacarbazine; D000077204:Temozolomide
keywords: GBM; Glioblastoma; chemotherapy; elderly patients; geriatric assessment; radiotherapy