PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF COMPLETE RESPONSE AFTER THE INITIAL TREATMENT FORMALIGNANT ASTROCYTOMA

To evaluate prognostic value of complete disappearance of the tumor ma ss in contrast enhanced computerized tomography after initial treatmen t, 81 patients with supratentorial malignant astrocytomas (57 anaplast ic astrocytomas and 24 glioblastomas) were divided into two groups. Al l complete response CR patients received the gross total resection (mo re than 95% resection). Average age of this group was significantly yo unger than that of noncomplete response patients (38.4 vs. 49.7 years old, p < 0.05; Student t-test). In the complete response group, median survival duration was 58 months, 2-year survival rate was 77%, and 5- year survival rate was 34% compared to 12 months, 29%, and 10%, respec tively, in the noncomplete response group. The outcome of CR group was significantly better (p < 0.001; Wilcoxon test). Therefore, complete response at completion of the initial treatment is an important predic tor of longer survival. Gross total resection is essential to obtain c omplete response and thus plays a crucial role in the initial treatmen t of malignant astrocytomas.