Radiotherapy plus concurrent or sequential temozolomide for glioblastoma in the elderly: a meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Many physicians are reluctant to treat elderly glioblastoma (GBM) patients as aggressively as younger patients, which is not evidence based due to the absence of validated data from primary studies. We conducted a meta-analysis to provide valid evidence for the use of the aggressive combination of radiotherapy (RT) and temozolomide (TMZ) in elderly GBM patients.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted using the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases. Studies comparing combined RT/TMZ with RT alone in elderly patients (≥65 years) with newly diagnosed GBM were eligible for inclusion.

Results

No eligible randomized trials were identified. Alternatively, a meta-analysis of nonrandomized studies (NRSs) was performed, with 16 studies eligible for over

SUBMITTER: Yin AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3782499 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature