Elderly and poor prognosis patients with high grade glioma: hypofractionated radiotherapy

Abstract AIM: To evaluate efficacy of short-course radiotherapy in elderly and/or poor performance status patients with high grade glioma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients with high grade astrocytoma were selected in our Institute to receive hypofractionated radiotherapy. We considered two radiotherapy treatment arms: in arm I there were 22 patients treated with 60 Gy in 30 fractions at 5 fractions per week; in arm 2 there were 21 patients who received hypofractionated radiotherapy course of 30 Gy in 10 fractions at 5 fractions per week. RESULTS: In arm1 the median survival time was 8.2 months and the 1 year overall survival was 36%; in arm 2 the estimated median survival was 6.2 months and the 1 year overall survival was 23%. Treatment was without acute toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, hypofractionated radiotherapy seems to be a reasonable treatment option for poor prognosis patients with high grade astrocytoma. It is well tolerated and can reduce the overall treatment time without negative effects on survival compared with conventional fractionation