Treatment outcomes of hypofractionated radiotherapy combined with temozolomide followed by bevacizumab salvage therapy in glioblastoma patients aged > 75 years

The optimal treatment for elderly patients with glioblastoma has not been established. We retrospectively analyzed the safety and efficacy of hypofractionated radiotherapy (45 Gy/15 fr) combined with temozolomide (TMZ) followed by bevacizumab (BEV) salvage treatment in 18 glioblastoma patients aged > 75 years. All of the patients received safe hypofractionated radiotherapy and concomitant TMZ (75 mg/m(2)), and 14 of 18 patients received maintenance TMZ. We administered BEV to 17 of 18 patients because their Karnofsky Performance Status scores declined and/or recurrence was detected. During the follow-up period (median duration: 17.5 months, range 3-33 months), 12 patients died of their disease. While the median progression-free survival period was 2.5 months, the median overall survival period was 20 months. Adverse events (National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade 3 or 4) occurred in 5 patients. Hypofractionated radiotherapy combined with TMZ and BEV salvage treatment was found to be safe and effective in glioblastoma patients aged > 75 years.