A Survival Score Based on Symptoms and Performance Status for Patients with High-grade Gliomas Receiving Radiochemotherapy

Abstract

Aim: To create a simple survival score for patients with high-grade gliomas based on clinical symptoms and performance status.

Patients and methods: Thirty-six patients received neurosurgical intervention followed by radiochemotherapy for high-grade gliomas. Six pre-treatment symptoms were included in the score depending on their impairment of quality of life, scoring each between 1 and 3. For each patient, the points from the symptoms were added and another 4 points were added for Karnofsky performance status (KPS) <80%. Based on the survival rates of these scores, two groups were formed: 1-4 (group A) and 5-12 points (group B).

Results: The 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates in group A were 100%, 33% and 24% in group A and 47%, 7% and 0% in group B (p<0.001). In addition, complete tumor resection (p<0.001) and tumor grade III (p<0.001) were associated with improved survival.

Conclusion: A simple survival score was developed helping physicians in decision-making for patients with high-grade gliomas.

Keywords: High-grade gliomas; clinical symptoms; performance status; radiochemotherapy; survival score; temozolomide.