Can advanced new radiation therapy technologies improve outcome of high grade glioma (HGG) patients? analysis of 3D-conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) versus volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in patients treated with surgery, concomitant and adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy.
To assess the impact of volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) compared with 3D-conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) in patients with newly diagnosed high grade glioma in terms of toxicity, progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).



From March 2004 to October 2014, 341 patients underwent surgery followed by concomitant and adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy. From 2003 to 2010, 167 patients were treated using 3DCRT; starting from 2011, 174 patients underwent VMAT. The quantitative evaluation of the treatment plans was performed by means of standard dose volume histogram analysis. Response was recorded using the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria and toxicities graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Event version 4.0.



Both techniques achieved an adequate dose conformity to the target. The median follow up time was 1.3 years; at the last observation 76 patients (23.4 %) were alive and 249 (76.6 %) dead (16 patients were lot to follow-up). For patients who underwent 3DCRT, the median PFS was 0.99 ± 0.07 years (CI95: 0.9-1.1 years); the 1 and 3 years PFS were, 49.6 ± 4 and 19.1 ± 3.1 %. This shall be compared, respectively, to 1.29 ± 0.13 years (CI95: 1.01-1.5 years), 60.8 ± 3.8, and 29.7 ± 4.6 % for patients who underwent VMAT (p = 0.02). The median OS for 3DCRT patients was 1.21 ± 0.09 years (CI95:1.03-1.3 years); 1 and 5 year OS was, 63.3 ± 3.8 and 21.5 ± 3.3 %. The corresponding results for 3DRCT patients were 1.56 ± 0.09 years (CI95:1.37-1.74 years), 73.4 ± 3.5, 30 ± 4.6 % respectively (p < 0.01). In both groups, prognostic factors conditioning PFS and OS were age, gender, KPS, histology and extent of resection (EOR).



VMAT resulted superior to 3DCRT in terms of dosimetric findings and clinical results.
Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery Department, Humanitas Cancer Center and Research Hospital, Milan, Italy. piera.navarria@cancercenter.humanitas.it.|Istituto Clinico Humanitas Cancer Center, Via Manzoni 56 20089 Rozzano, Milano, Italy. piera.navarria@cancercenter.humanitas.it.
Pierina
P
Navarria
Department of Neurooncological surgery, Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano and Humanitas Cancer Center and Research Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Federico
F
Pessina
Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery Department, Humanitas Cancer Center and Research Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Luca
L
Cozzi
Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery Department, Humanitas Cancer Center and Research Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Anna Maria
AM
Ascolese
Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery Department, Humanitas Cancer Center and Research Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Francesca
F
Lobefalo
Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery Department, Humanitas Cancer Center and Research Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Antonella
A
Stravato
Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery Department, Humanitas Cancer Center and Research Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
D'Agostino
Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery Department, Humanitas Cancer Center and Research Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Ciro
C
Franzese
Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Manuela
M
Caroli
Department of Neurooncological surgery, Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano and Humanitas Cancer Center and Research Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Lorenzo
L
Bello
Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery Department, Humanitas Cancer Center and Research Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Marta
M
Scorsetti
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods*; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000379:methods*; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Conformal therapy; Glioblastoma; Volumetric modulated arc therapy