Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • News & Views
  • Published:

Neuro-oncology

Treatment decisions in elderly patients with glioblastoma

Controversy exists over the best treatment option in elderly patients with glioblastoma. A recent study in glioblastoma patients who were over 60 years of age found improved survival rates with temozolomide chemotherapy compared with radiotherapy, and confirmed the validity of MGMT methylation status for prediction of benefit from temozolomide treatment.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Kohler, B. A. et al. Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, 1975–2007, featuring tumors of the brain and other nervous system. J. Natl Cancer Inst. 103, 714–736 (2011).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Stupp, R. et al. Radiotherapy plus concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide for glioblastoma. N. Engl. J. Med. 352, 987–996 (2005).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Stupp, R. et al. Effects of radiotherapy with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide versus radiotherapy alone on survival in glioblastoma in a randomised phase III study: 5-year analysis of the EORTC-NCIC trial. Lancet Oncol. 10, 459–466 (2009).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Brandes, A. A. et al. Temozolomide concomitant and adjuvant to radiotherapy in elderly patients with glioblastoma: correlation with MGMT promoter methylation status. Cancer 115, 3512–3518 (2009).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Keime-Guibert, F. et al. Radiotherapy for glioblastoma in the elderly. N. Engl. J. Med. 356, 1527–1535 (2007).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Roa, W. et al. Abbreviated course of radiation therapy in older patients with glioblastoma multiforme: a prospective randomized clinical trial. J. Clin. Oncol. 22, 1583–1588 (2004).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Wick, W. et al. Temozolomide chemotherapy alone versus radiotherapy alone for malignant astrocytoma in the elderly: the NOA-08 randomised, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 13, 707–715 (2012).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Malmström, A. et al. Temozolomide versus standard 6-week radiotherapy versus hypofractionated radiotherapy in patients older than 60 years with glioblastoma: the Nordic randomised, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 13, 916–926 (2012).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. US National Library of Medicine. Radiation therapy with or without temozolomide in treating older patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme. ClinicalTrials.gov [online], (2012).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alba A. Brandes.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Brandes, A., Bartolotti, M. Treatment decisions in elderly patients with glioblastoma. Nat Rev Neurol 8, 664–665 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2012.220

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2012.220

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing: Cancer

Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Cancer newsletter — what matters in cancer research, free to your inbox weekly.

Get what matters in cancer research, free to your inbox weekly. Sign up for Nature Briefing: Cancer