• F Würschmidt, H Bünemann, and H P Heilmann.
• Hermann-Holthusen-Institut für Strahlentherapie, Allgemeines Krankenhaus St. Georg, Hamburg.
• Strahlenther Onkol. 1995 Jun 1; 171 (6): 315-21.

PurposePatients with malignant gliomas have a limited survival prognosis. We retrospectively analyzed data of malignant glioma patients with the aim of defining prognostic factors on which individualized treatment strategies might be built on.Patients And MethodsSeventy-six patients with primary malignant glioma (51 glioblastoma multiforme, 20 anaplastic astrocytoma, 4 anaplastic oligo-astrocytoma, 1 anaplastic glioma) were postoperatively irradiated with 5 and 8 Me V photons, 2 Gy per fraction to a median total dose of 60 Gy (range 50 to 70 Gy).ResultsThe youngest quartile of patients (up to 45 years) had the highest 3-year survival rates (mean +/- SE: 15 +/- 8%) and median survival time (17.9 months, 95% confidence interval: 9.2, 24.2 months) as compared to the oldest quartile (> 61 years) with no 3-year survivor and a median survival time of 9.7 months (7.2, 12.3 months). The middle quartiles (46 to 61 years) showed intermediate results. The difference between the youngest and oldest quartile (p = 0.01) and the middle quartile versus the oldest quartile (p = 0.04) was significant. In univariate analysis, tumor size (p = 0.04 for -30 mm vs > 50 mm) was of importance. In multivariate analysis only age of the patient reached statistical significance (p = 0.03). As compared to the youngest quartile of patients, the oldest quartile had a relative risk of 2.1 (95% confidence interval: 0.9, 5.1) of dying from the disease; the age group of 46 to 61 years had a relative risk of 2.0 (0.9, 4.3).ConclusionsAge of the patient is the most important factor for survival prognosis favouring younger age (< or = 45 years). The possible implications for radiation therapy are discussed.

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