Long-term survivors of glioblastoma: clinical features and molecular analysis

Abstract

Glioblastoma is a highly lethal neoplasm with a median survival of 12–14 months; only 2–5% of patients survive >3 years. At our institute, patients with glioblastoma are initially treated with maximum tumor resection followed by radiation and the intravenous injection of nimustine hydrochloride (ACNU). Using this strategy, 18 of 123 (14.6%) patients treated at our hospital survived >3 years; 7 manifested no recurrence, and the other 11 had early recurrence and received additional therapies. To identify factors associated with prolonged survival, we compared these patients with 21 short-term (MGMT promoter methylation was significantly more frequent. The rate of p53 mutation was lower, and the rate of PTEN mutations and the proliferation index were slightly higher in short-term survivors. By multivariate analysis, we found that a younger age and MGMT promoter methylation were significant favorable factors in patients with glioblastoma.