Intraoperative radiotherapy for glioblastoma: an international pooled analysis

Radiother Oncol. 2020 Jan:142:162-167. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2019.09.023. Epub 2019 Oct 16.

Abstract

Purpose: To report the results of the first international pooled analysis of patients with glioblastoma treated with intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) in addition to standard of care therapy.

Methods: Data from 51 patients treated at five centers in Germany, China and Peru were analyzed. All patients underwent tumor resection followed by a single application of IORT (10-40 Gy, prescribed to the applicator surface) with low-energy X-rays. Thereafter, standard adjuvant radiochemotherapy and maintenance chemotherapy were applied. Factors of interest were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), local PFS (L-PFS; defined as appearance of new lesions ≤1 cm to the cavity border) and distant PFS (D-PFS; lesions >1 cm). The same endpoints were estimated at 1-, 2- and 3-years using the Kaplan-Meier method. Additionally, rates and severity (as per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Version 5.0) of radionecrosis (RN) were analyzed.

Results: The median age was 55 years (range: 16-75) and the median Karnofsky Performance Status was 80 (20-100). At a median follow-up of 18.0 months (2-42.4), the median OS, PFS, L-PFS and D-PFS were 18.0 months (95% CI: 14.7-21.3), 11.4 months (95%CI: 7.58-15.22), 16 months (95%CI: 10.21-21.8) and 30.0 months (95%CI: 18.59 - 41.41), respectively. The estimated 1-, 2- and 3-year OS, PFS, L-PFS and D-PFS were 79.5%, 38.7% and 25.6%; 46.2%, 29.4%, and 5.9%; 60.9, 37.9%, and 12.6%; and 76.7%, 65.0%, and 39.0% respectively. First progression occurred locally in only 35.3% of cases. Grade 1 RN was detected in 7.8% and grade 3 in 17.6% of the patients. No grade 4 toxicity was reported and no treatment-related deaths occurred.

Conclusion: Compared to historical data, this pooled analysis suggests improved efficacy and safety of IORT with low-energy X-rays for newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Prospective data is warranted to confirm these findings.

Keywords: Dose-escalated boost; Glioblastoma; Intraoperative radiotherapy.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / surgery*
  • China
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Germany
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Glioblastoma / radiotherapy*
  • Glioblastoma / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Intraoperative Care / methods
  • Karnofsky Performance Status
  • Maintenance Chemotherapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peru
  • Progression-Free Survival
  • Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Young Adult