Efficacy and safety of second-line fotemustine in elderly patients with recurrent glioblastoma

J Neurooncol. 2013 Jul;113(3):397-401. doi: 10.1007/s11060-013-1125-3. Epub 2013 Apr 6.

Abstract

Fotemustine (FTM) is a common treatment option for glioblastoma patients refractory to temozolomide (TMZ). Although elderly patients represent a large component of glioblastoma population, the feasibility and the efficacy of second-line FTM are not available in those patients.We retrospectively analyzed the records of glioblastoma patients older than 65 years, receiving FTM at a dose of 70-100 mg/m(2) of FTM every week for 3 consecutive weeks (induction phase) and then every 3 weeks (70-100 mg/m(2)), as second-line treatment.Between January 2004 and December 2011, 65 glioblastoma patients (median age, 70 years; range, 65-79 years) were eligible for this analysis. Sixty-five patients received a total of 364 FTM cycles, with a median of 4 cycles for each patient. After induction, we observed 1 complete response (1.5 %), 12 partial responses (18.5 %), 18 stable diseases (27.7 %), and 34 patients' progressions (47.7 %). Disease control rate was 43.1 %. Median survival from the beginning of FTM therapy was 7.1 months, while the median progression-free survival was 4.2 months, and the 6-months progression free survival rate was 35.4 %. The most relevant grade 3-4 toxicity events were thrombocytopenia (15.3 %) and neutropenia (9.2 %). In the univariate and multivariate analysis, time from radiotherapy to FTM, number of TMZ and FTM cycles and disease control resulted independent prognostic factors.This study showed that FTM is a valuable therapeutic option for elderly glioblastoma patients, with a safe toxicity profile.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / mortality
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Glioblastoma / mortality
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / mortality
  • Nitrosourea Compounds / therapeutic use*
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / therapeutic use*
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Salvage Therapy*
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Nitrosourea Compounds
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • fotemustine