Repeat Resection for Recurrent Glioblastoma in the WHO 2021 Era: A Prospective Matched Case-Control Study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The role of resection for recurrent glioblastoma remains unclear. METHODS: Patients who underwent repeat resection for recurrent IDH-wild-type glioblastoma were prospectively matched with 1:1 control cohort (n = 30:30). The two groups signed the consent and were matched for age, gender, comorbidities, eloquent vs. non-eloquent location, preoperative tumor volume and extent of resection in first surgery, neuropathological features as in WHO 2021 classification, time to progression, tumor volume at the time of recurrence, Park Score, ventricular wall involvement, use of steroids or multiple antiseizure medications and adjuvant therapy. Primary aim was to evaluate the overall survival in two cohorts. The secondary aim was to determine predictive factors for long term survival after repeat resection. RESULTS: After matching, patients had a long term follow up until death. Median overall survival times for patients who underwent repeat and one resection was 23.8 months vs 9.1 months, respectively (Log-Rank p < 0.001). Two predictive factors for long term survival after repeat resection were preoperative Karnofsky Performance Score >70 and Glasgow Coma Scale >13 (Fisher p = 0.07 and p < 0.001, respectively) while age, time to surgery, preoperative volume, extend of resection in repeat resection, location of tumor, its extension to ventricular wall, ependymal enhancement, comorbidities, tumor histological and molecular features did not correlate with postoperative survival. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first prospective matched case-control study revealing survival benefit of repeat resection for recurrent gliomas with long term follow up in a select group.