HYPERFRACTIONATED RADIOTHERAPY IN ADULT PATIENTS WITH HIGH-GRADE ASTROCYTOMAS OF THE BRAIN

Hyperfractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) may increase the survival in glial tumors. Fortyone patients with high grade astrocytoma were irradiated 120 cGy twice daily building up to a total of 6000 cGy and after were boosted 1200 cGy. The patients were evaluated after a follow-up ranging 1-15 months, 7 months on the average. The survival rates were as follows; for the whole group in 15 months was 58% and the local control rate was 35%, local control rate was 48% for the cases of complete and partial response; the survival rate for total surgery + radiotherapy for 15 months was 71 % and 43% was the rate for subtotal surgery/biopsy + radiotherapy for 15 months. The radiotherapy was well tolerated and no serious complications were observed. These results indicate that HFRT can be administered to high-grade astrocytoma cases.

Keywords: Hyperfractionated radiotherapy, high-grade astrocytoma