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Post progression survival in glioblastoma: where are we?

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Abstract

The optimal end point for phase II studies for recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) is unclear and a matter of debate. Moreover, data about post-progression survival (PPS) after the first disease progression in GBM patients treated according to EORTC 26981/22981/NCIC CE.3 trial are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the PPS in GBM patients. The analysis was made with a database on 1,006 GBM patients followed prospectively between 06/2005 and 06/2010. Eligibility criteria for the study were: age ≥18 years; PS: 0–2; chemotherapy given at disease progression after RT/TMZ. 232 patients (mean age 52 years, range 18–77 years) were enrolled. The median PFS following second line chemotherapy (PFS2) was 2.5 months (95 % CI 2.1–2.9) and the rate of patients free of progression at 6 months (PFS2-6 mo), was 21.6 % (95 % CI 16.3–26.9 %). The median PPS was 8.6 months (95 % CI 7.4–9.8), PPS rates were: PPS-6: 66 % (95 % CI 60.3–72.9 %), PPS-9: 48.2 % (95 % CI 41.5–54.9 %) and PPS-12: 31.7 % (95 % CI 25.2–38.2 %). PPS in unselected patients treated with alkylating agents is about 8 months. PPS rates could be of interest as an end point in future studies in recurrent GBM.

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Acknowledgments

Authors thank Dr. Alexandro Paccapelo for the statistical suggestions.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, Bellaria-Maggiore Hospitals, Azienda USL – IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences, Via Altura 3, 40139, Bologna, Italy

    Enrico Franceschi, Stefania Bartolini, Marco Bartolotti, Rosalba Poggi, Alicia Tosoni & Alba A. Brandes

  2. Statistic and Informatic Unit, Neurosciences Department, Azienda Ospedale-Università, Padua, Italy

    Mario Ermani

  3. Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DiBiNeM), Section of Pathology, M. Malpighi, Bellaria Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Giovanni Tallini, Gianluca Marucci & Luca Morandi

  4. Department of Neurosurgery, Bellaria-Maggiore Hospitals, Azienda USL – IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna, Italy

    Antonio Fioravanti & Eugenio Pozzati

  5. Department of Neuroradiology, Bellaria-Maggiore Hospitals, Azienda USL – IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna, Italy

    Raffaele Agati & Antonella Bacci

  6. Department of Radiotherapy, Bellaria-Maggiore Hospitals, Azienda USL – IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna, Italy

    Damiano Balestrini

  7. Pathology Department, Verona Hospital, Verona, Italy

    Claudio Ghimenton

  8. Neuroradiology Department, University Hospital of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43100, Parma, Italy

    Girolamo Crisi

Authors
  1. Enrico Franceschi
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  2. Mario Ermani
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  3. Stefania Bartolini
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  4. Marco Bartolotti
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  5. Rosalba Poggi
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  6. Giovanni Tallini
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  7. Gianluca Marucci
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  8. Antonio Fioravanti
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  9. Alicia Tosoni
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  10. Raffaele Agati
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  12. Eugenio Pozzati
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  13. Luca Morandi
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  14. Damiano Balestrini
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  15. Claudio Ghimenton
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  16. Girolamo Crisi
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  17. Alba A. Brandes
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alba A. Brandes.

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Franceschi, E., Ermani, M., Bartolini, S. et al. Post progression survival in glioblastoma: where are we?. J Neurooncol 121, 399–404 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-014-1651-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-014-1651-7

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