Adult brain low-grade astrocytomas: survival after surgery and radiotherapy

In order to identify prognostic factors of survival, twelve elements of dis ease and treatment have been evaluated for a population of 49 patients with diffuse low-grade astrocytoma treated with surgical resection and radiothe rapy. The survival values were inversely correlated with age and major resi dual portion. On the other hand, KPS, lobar site, grade II Daumas-Duport le sions, protoplasmatic variant, early epilepsy, hyperfractionated radiothera py and extent of exeresis were prognostic factors correlated with survival. Tumor extent and radiation total dose were not correlated in a meaningful way. Only KPS was statistically significant when compared to all the progno stic factors. We believe that patient selection according to age, lesion si te and histological features are not sufficient to generate a homogeneous t umoral population. The most appropriate therapy for treating low-grade, ast rocytomas is still an open subject. However, recent studies have shown that the prognostic value of a group of factors is useful to plan controlled st udies that compare differentiated treatment protocols.