“Long extended” temozolomide in a selected population with not radically resected high-grade gliomas.

Abstract

e12510 Background: Despite the important progress in the treatment of solid tumors, high grade gliomas (HGGs) remain neoplasm with poor prognosis, especially when are not radically resected. Here we report the results of a selected population treated with standard schedule of Radiotherapy (RT) + Temozolomide (TMZ) followed by TMZ until progression. Methods: From January 2008 to January 2010, 14 newly diagnosed HGG patients, with median age of 50.6 years (range 27-75 yrs), were enrolled at Oncology Unit of S. Maria Goretti Hospital in Latina (University of Rome “Sapienza”). All patients were not radically resected and with ECOG PS=O. Furthermore patients were selected according to O6 Methyl-Guanine-DNA-Methyl Transferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status. Only methylated patients were included in our study. After surgery, patients received standard treatment with TMZ (75 mg/m2) concomitant with RT (60 Gy total dose). After a break of six weeks, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was performed and all patients with stable or responsive disease received TMZ (150mg/200mg/m2/d x 5dq 28d) until progression. The response to treatment was evaluated according to RANO criteria Results: In our study the results showed one year overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) rates of 85,7% and 71,4% respectively. Moreover we observed two years OS rate of 70% and two years PFS rate of 10%. A total of 108 cycles of adjuvant TMZ were administered with average number of 9 per patient (range 1-16). The most frequent side effects observed were haematological toxicity and fatigue. Thrombocytopenia (G2-G3) was observed in 42% of patients, neutropenia (G2-G3), fatigue (G2-G3) and nausea (G2-G3) in 30%, 32% and 25% of patients respectively. Conclusions: Despite the small number of patients, our experience suggests a manageable safety profile and a good efficacy of TMZ until progression in a selected population of patients (HGGs not radically resected, with a good ECOG PS). These data also confirms the literature knowledge, underlining the prognostic positive impact of MGMT promoter methylation in patients with HGG.