The impact on survival of postradiation nitrosourea-containing chemotherapy (CHT) in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GM) was analyzed retrospectively in 133 patients who completed the planned radiotherapy out of 173 observed cases. Thirty-five patients were < 50 years old, 89 were males, 20 had performance status (PS) < 70 and 72 > or = 70. Surgery was followed by radiotherapy in all cases (50-60 Gy in 95 patients, 61-70 Gy in 38 patients). At the end of radiotherapy, 43 patients received CHT, whereas 90 patients did not receive further therapy. At univariate analysis, age < 50 years, feminine gender, subtotal or total resection, radiotherapy doses > 60 Gy, and CHT had an independent prognostic value. Our results suggest that chemotherapy improves 2-year survival rates from 12% to 28% in GM. The sequence of treatment, new drugs, and combinations should be further explored.