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Lookup NU author(s): Professor David Ellison, Dr Helen Lucraft, Dr Richard Gilbertson
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Purpose: To analyze the impact of radiotherapy (RT) parameters on outcome in a randomized study of pre-RT chemotherapy for M0-M1 medulloblastoma. Methods and Materials: Patients were randomized to RT alone or RT preceded by chemotherapy with vincristine, etoposide, carboplatin, and cyclophosphamide. RT consisted of craniospinal RT, 35 Gy in 21 fractions, followed by a posterior fossa (PF) boost of 20 Gy in 12 fractions. The accuracy of cribriform fossa, skull base, and PF field placement was assessed. Results: Between 1992 and 2000, 217 patients were randomized, of whom 179 were eligible for analysis. At a median follow-up of 5.4 years, the 3- and 5-year overall survival rate was 79.5% and 70.7%, respectively. The 3- and 5-year event-free survival (EFS) rate was 71.6% and 67.0%, respectively. EFS was significantly better for the chemotherapy plus RT group (3-year EFS rate 78.5% vs. 64.8%, p = 0.0366). Overall survival and EFS were significantly better for patients completing RT within 50 days compared with those taking >50 days to complete RT (3-year overall survival rate 84.1% vs. 70.9%, p = 0.0356, 3-year EFS rate 78.5% vs. 53.7%, p = 0.0092). Multivariate analysis identified the use of chemotherapy (p = 0.0248) and RT duration (p = 0.0100) as predictive of better EFS. Planning films were reviewed for 131 (74.4%) of 176 patients. Sixty-five (49.6%) had no targeting deviations and 58 (44.3%) had one or more deviations. PF recurrence occurred in 11 (34.4%) of 32 with a PF targeting deviation compared with 13 (16.3%) of 80 without (p = 0.043). No statistically significant impact of other targeting deviations on recurrence risk or EFS were found. Conclusion: The results of this study have confirmed the importance of the duration of RT for medulloblastoma. Also, attention to detail when planning RT is important, as illustrated in the case of PF field placement. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc.
Author(s): Taylor RE, Bailey CC, Robinson KJ, Weston CL, Ellison D, Ironside J, Lucraft H, Gilbertson R, Tait DM, Saran F, Walker DA, Pizer BL, Lashford LS, United Kingdom Childrens Canc Stud
Publication type: Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)
Publication status: Published
Conference Name: International Journal of Radiation: Oncology, Biology, Physics. 44th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology
Year of Conference: 2004
Pages: 1184-1193
ISSN: 0360-3016
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2003.08.010
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2003.08.010
Library holdings: Search Newcastle University Library for this item
ISBN: 1879355X
