title: Post progression survival in glioblastoma: where are we?
abstract: The optimal end point for phase II studies for recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) is unclear and a matter of debate. Moreover, data about post-progression survival (PPS) after the first disease progression in GBM patients treated according to EORTC 26981/22981/NCIC CE.3 trial are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the PPS in GBM patients. The analysis was made with a database on 1,006 GBM patients followed prospectively between 06/2005 and 06/2010. Eligibility criteria for the study were: age ≥ 18 years; PS: 0-2; chemotherapy given at disease progression after RT/TMZ. 232 patients (mean age 52 years, range 18-77 years) were enrolled. The median PFS following second line chemotherapy (PFS2) was 2.5 months (95 % CI 2.1-2.9) and the rate of patients free of progression at 6 months (PFS2-6 mo), was 21.6 % (95 % CI 16.3-26.9 %). The median PPS was 8.6 months (95 % CI 7.4-9.8), PPS rates were: PPS-6: 66 % (95 % CI 60.3-72.9 %), PPS-9: 48.2 % (95 % CI 41.5-54.9 %) and PPS-12: 31.7 % (95 % CI 25.2-38.2 %). PPS in unselected patients treated with alkylating agents is about 8 months. PPS rates could be of interest as an end point in future studies in recurrent GBM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Bellaria-Maggiore Hospitals, Azienda USL - IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences, Via Altura 3, 40139, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ermani
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bartolini
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bartolotti
authors.forename: Rosalba
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poggi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tallini
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marucci
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fioravanti
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tosoni
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Agati
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bacci
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pozzati
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morandi
authors.forename: Damiano
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Balestrini
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ghimenton
authors.forename: Girolamo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crisi
authors.forename: Alba A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Brandes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019175:DNA Methylation; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases / Q000235:genetics; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes / Q000235:genetics; D016208:Databases, Factual; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases; C515491:MGMT protein, human; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes