Outcome of Second Line Treatment of Recurrent High- Grade Glioma by re-Irradiation or Bevacizumab-based Chemotherapy: A Cross Sectional Study

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

1 Cancer Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Consultant Physician, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

3 Loyola University Chicago, Edward Hines Jr., VA Hospital, Stritch School of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Maywood, IL, USA.

4 Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.

5 Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Currently, there is no standard of treatment for the management of the recurrent high-grade glioma. Re-resection, re-irradiation, and chemotherapy are among main treatment options without any proven efficacy. Aim: To compare the outcome of second line treatment of recurrent high-grade glioma by re-irradiation or bevacizumab-based chemotherapy. Methods: Retrospectively, patients with the recurrent high-grade glioma treated by re-irradiation (ReRT group) (34 patients) or bevacizumab-based chemotherapy (Bev group) (40 patients) as the first-file after the first recurrence were compared in term of first-line progression free survival (PFS), second-line PFS, and overall survival (OS). Results: Both groups were similar in term of gender (p=0.859), age (=0.071), type of first-line treatment (p=0.227), and performance status (p=0.150). With a median follow-up of 31 months (m), mortality rate was 41.2% and 70% in the ReRT and Bev groups, respectively. In the Bev and ReRT groups, median OS was 27 m (95% confidence interval (CI) 20-33.9 m) vs. 132 m (95% CI 52.9-211 m) (p<0.0001), median first-line PFS was 11 m (95% CI 7.14-28.7 m) vs. 37 m (95% CI 8.42-65.75 m) (p<0.0001), and median second-line PFS was 7 m (95% CI 3.9-10 m) vs. 9 m (95% CI 5.5-12.4 m) (p=0.564), respectively. Conclusion: The PFS is similar after the second line treatment of recurrent primary central nervous system malignancies either by re-irradiation or bevacizumab-based chemotherapy.

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