Determinants of tumor treating field usage in patients with primary glioblastoma: A single institutional experience

Background Determinates of tumor treating fields (TTFields) usage in patients receiving combined modality therapy for primary IDH wild-type glioblastoma are currently unknown. Methods Ninety-one patients underwent maximal debulking surgical resection, completed external beam radiotherapy with concurrent Temozolomide (TMZ), and initiated adjuvant TMZ with or without TTFields. We performed a retrospective analysis of patient, tumor, and treatment-related factors that affected TTFields usage. Results We identified three TTFields usage subgroups: 32 patients that declined TTFields, 40 patients that started, but had monthly compliance of less than 75% or used it for less than 2 months, and 19 patients who used TTFields for 2 or more months and maintained average monthly compliance greater than 75%. With 26.5 months median follow-up for surviving patients, the 1- and 3-year actuarial overall survival for all patients was 80% and 18%, respectively. On multivariate analysis TTFields use (P = .03), extent of surgical resection (P = 0.02), and MGMT methylation status (P = .01) were significantly associated with overall survival. TTFields usage was explored as a continuous variable and higher average usage was associated with longer overall survival (P = .03). There was no relationship between patient, tumor, or treatment-related factors and a patient's decision to use TTFields. Conclusions No subgroup of patients was more or less likely to initiate TTFields therapy and no subgroup was more or less likely to use TTFields as prescribed. The degree of TTFields compliance may be associated with improved survival independent of other factors.