Gamma knife radiosurgery improves survival in patients with high-grade gliomas: Study

Turkey: Applying gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) during the early postoperative period in addition to the standard management of high-grade gliomas (HGGs), is beneficial for increasing overall survival and progression-free survival (PFS), reveals a recent study. The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience on January 1, 2022. 

Presently, HCGs are managed through surgical resection, external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), and chemotherapy. Although GKRS is being used currently for HGGs management, it has not been considered standard care. Fatih Yakar, Pamukkale University School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Pamukkale/Denizli, Turkey, and colleagues therefore aimed to compare the contribution of GKRS to clinical outcomes in patients in which gross total resection (GTR) cannot be achieved. 

For this purpose, the researchers retrospectively reviewed the data of 99 patients with HGG (World Health Organization (WHO) grade III and IV) from two gropus. Group 1 consisted of 68 patients for which only EBRT was administered and Group 2 comprised of 31 patients for which EBRT and GKRS were administered. They then recorded and compared patient demographic data, IDH mutation, the extent of resection, progression-free survival, radiation dosage, and overall survival, and follow-up time. 

"Due to low low morbidity and high efficiency, SRS indications are increasing," wrote the authors. "Applying GKRS to residual tumors during the early post- operative period in HGGs can contribute to a higher OS with less additional morbidity."

"Our findings imply that GKRS can be added to the current management practices for residual HGGs," they concluded. 

Reference:

The study titled, "The effectiveness of gamma knife radiosurgery for the management of residual high-grade gliomas: A single institutional study," was published in the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience. 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocn.2021.12.015