Prognostic factors other than the performance status and age for glioblastoma multiforme: a single-institution experience.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the survival of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and analyse the prognostic factors influencing survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-eight consecutive patients with GBM treated with radiotherapy (RT) and temozolomide (TMZ) (in 21 patients) between 1999 and 2006 were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: Sixty-seven (85.5%) patients had undergone gross total or subtotal resection before RT. The median overall survival was 9.8 months, and significantly influenced by age (p=0.02), Karnofsky performance status (p=0.001), RT (p<0.0001), gender (p=0.02), concomitant TMZ (p=0.003), RT waiting time (p=0.014), and treatment time (p=0.01) in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, older age (p=0.03), male gender (p=0.01), absence of concomitant TMZ (p=0.008), RT dose below 60 Gy (p=0.03), RT waiting time more than 20 days (p=0.01), and treatment time more than 76 days (p=0.0072) were poor prognosticators. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes the importance of female gender, dose and duration of RT, and RT waiting time in patients with glioblastoma multiforme.