Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors and survival in patients with glioblastoma multiforme

Purpose. The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival of patients with glioblastoma multiforme, to analyse the prognostic factors influencing the survival datum and to review recent results in the literature. Materials and Methods. Seventy five patients underwent radiation treatment between May 1998 and April 2003. Among the factors under investigation we ascertained that sex, chemotherapy, conformal treat- ment, surgery, and the choice of the irradiation area (whole brain or only the involved field) did not influence the survival in a statistically significant manner. Results. Whereas age and total dose were the 95% statistically significant variables. Hazard ratio of patients older than 58 years compared to younger patients was 1.69. The death risk was 69% in older than younger patients. A greater irradiation dose improved the survival with an increase of the median survival days. The total dose lower than 6000 cGy caused an increase of 81.8% in the death risk. The median survival from the diagnosis to the death was 14.7 months (446 days) and 1-, 2- and 3- year survival rate was 69.3%, 38.4%, and 14.7% respectively. Conclusions. The current medical literature and our experience attests that the use of temozolomide improves the survival of these patients.