A retrospective survey of the last 3 months of life in patients carrying glioblastoma: Clinical treatments and profiles

Glioblastoma is one of the most common types of primary brain tumor. In situations of local recurrence, physicians can suggest either specific palliative anticancer treatments (SPAT; surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) or best supportive care (BSC). The objective of the present study was to identify clinical factors that may have influenced the continuation or cessation of SPAT during the final 3 months of life in patients with glioblastoma. In the present retrospective single-center study, all records of patients treated for glioblastoma, who succumbed to the disease between June 2006 and February 2014, were assessed. All selected patients were divided into two groups, according to treatments received during the last 3 months of life: The SPAT and BSC groups. A total of 148 patients were included: 81 patients in the SPAT group (group A) and 67 patients in the BSC group (group B). A performance status equal to 0 was observed for 17.3% of patients in group A vs. 6% in group B. Following progression, chemotherapy was administered in 39.5% of cases in group A vs. 20.9% of cases in group B (P=0.0149). The mean number of lines of chemotherapy administered in group A was equal to 1.44±0.77 as compared with 1.06±0.67 in group B (P=0.0017). SPAT are utilized frequently among patients approaching mortality due to a glioblastoma. Certain factors, including the utilization of novel chemotherapy after the first progression or number of lines of chemotherapy previously administered, may have influenced physicians' decisions whether to continue with the SPAT or not.