title: Temozolomide and radiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone in high grade gliomas: a very long term comparative study and literature review.
abstract: Temozolomide (TMZ) is the first line drug in the care of high grade gliomas. The combined treatment of TMZ plus radiotherapy is more effective in the care of brain gliomas then radiotherapy alone. Aim of this report is a survival comparison, on a long time (>10 years) span, of glioma patients treated with radiotherapy alone and with radiotherapy + TMZ.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this report we retrospectively reviewed the outcome of 128 consecutive pts with diagnosis of high grade gliomas referred to our institutions from April 1994 to November 2001. The first 64 pts were treated with RT alone and the other 64 with a combination of RT and adjuvant or concomitant TMZ.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Grade 3 (G3) haematological toxicity was recorded in 6 (9%) of 64 pts treated with RT and TMZ. No G4 haematological toxicity was observed. Age, histology, and administration of TMZ were statistically significant prognostic factors associated with 2 years overall survival (OS). PFS was for GBM 9 months, for AA 11.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of RT and TMZ improves long term survival in glioma patients. Our results confirm the superiority of the combination on a long time basis.
authors: Unit of Radiation Therapy of IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza", 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy ; Radiotherapy Unit, Scientific Institute "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza", Viale Cappuccini, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Parisi
authors: Unit of Radiation Therapy of IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza", 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors: Pietro
authors: P
authors: Corsa
authors: Unit of Radiation Therapy of IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza", 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors: Arcangela
authors: A
authors: Raguso
authors: Unit of Radiation Therapy of IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza", 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Perrone
authors: Unit of Radiation Therapy of IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza", 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors: Sabrina
authors: S
authors: Cossa
authors: Unit of Radiation Therapy of IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza", 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors: Tindara
authors: T
authors: Munafò
authors: Unit of Radiation Therapy of IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza", 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors: Gerardo
authors: G
authors: Sanpaolo
authors: Unit of Radiation Therapy of IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza", 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Donno
authors: Unit of Radiation Therapy of IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza", 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors: Maria Antonietta
authors: MA
authors: Clemente
authors: Unit of Radiation Therapy of Policlinico, 70124 Bari, Italy.
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Piombino
authors: University of Chieti, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
authors: Federico
authors: F
authors: Parisi
authors: Unit of Nuclear Medicine of IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza", San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
authors: Guido
authors: G
authors: Valle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077204:Temozolomide
chemical_list: D003606:Dacarbazine; D000077204:Temozolomide