Comparison of Prognostic Factors in Glioblastoma Patients with Short- and Long-term Survival

OBJECTIVE Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor. Despite all treatments, very few have long-term survival. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological features, treatment modalities, and factors affecting survival in GBM patients with short-and long-term survival. METHODS Data from 217 GBM patients who received radiotherapy (RT) between 2010 and 2021 were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups: short (<6 months) and long (>2 years) living groups. Treatment, patient, and tumor characteristics were evaluated. RESULTS While 37 (17.1%) of 217 patients included in the group lived <6 months, 49 (22.6%) were in the group that lived longer than 2 years. In the long-living group, being under 65 years of age, having better performance, performing total excision, applying conventional RT, and receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) detected more frequently. The regression test showed that young age, good performance, and receiving conventional RT and adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) were independently associated with survival. CONCLUSION It was observed that patients who lived longer were frequently young and well-performing ones who underwent wide excision and received conventional RT and adjuvant CT. By estimating the pre-treatment survival, treatment and support plans can be made accordingly.