Etoposide improves survival in high-grade glioma: a meta-analysis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of topoisomerase inhibitors in the treatment of high-grade gliomas (HGGs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Using median overall survival (mOS) and survival gain, we compared the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs in a meta-analysis of 624 HGG studies, including 44,850 patients from studies published between 1976 and 2011.

RESULTS:

Patient cohorts treated with etoposide had significant improvement in mOS (15.66 months vs. 13.27 months, p=0.026, 49 vs. 795 cohorts) and significant survival gain advantage (p=0.022) over cohorts treated without etoposide. In contrast, patient cohorts treated with irinotecan had significantly worse mOS (10.20 vs. 13.55 months, p=0.008, 35 vs. 810 cohorts) and a disadvantage compared to cohorts treated without irinotecan in survival gain analysis.

CONCLUSION:

Results from this analysis suggest that etoposide may improve overall survival for patients with HGG, whereas the use of irinotecan might result in inferior outcomes.

• Authors: Alexis Leonard, Johannes E Wolff
• Journal: Anticancer research (Anticancer Res) Vol. 33 Issue 8 Pg. 3307-15 (Aug 2013) ISSN: 1791-7530 [Electronic] Greece
• PMID: 23898097 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis)

Chemical References

• Topoisomerase Inhibitors
• Etoposide

Topics

• Brain Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Cohort Studies
• Demography
• Etoposide (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Glioma (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Survival Analysis
• Topoisomerase Inhibitors (therapeutic use)