Radiation, Then Chemo Improves Survival in Adults with Low-grade Glioma

A chemotherapy regimen consisting of procarbazine, CCNU and vincristine (PCV) administered following radiation therapy improved progression-free survival and overall survival in adults with low-grade gliomas, when compared to radiation therapy alone. The findings were part of the results of a Phase III clinical trial presented at the 2014 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. The trial, RTOG 9802, enrolled 251 patients with low-grade gliomas between October 1998 and June 2002 to address the role of chemotherapy following radiation treatment. Patients enrolled were at high risk, compared to other low-grade glioma patients because they were 40 years of age or older or had a less than complete surgical removal of their tumor if they were under 40. Investigators also found that patients with oligodendroglioma had better outcomes than those with astrocytoma or oligoastrocytoma. To learn more about the study, click here.