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OBJECTIVE: In patients with cerebral astrocytomas treated with nitrosourea-based chemotherapy, to determine whether age is predictive of response, time to progression, survival, or rate of complications. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of neuroimaging studies and clinical data. SETTING: University hospital with a busy neuro-oncology service. PATIENTS: One hundred forty-eight patients with pathologically confirmed malignant astrocytomas or recurrent astrocytomas. RESULTS: Partial response occurred in 39% of patients aged or = 60 (p or = 60 (p or = 60 (p or = 60 and 16% of patients under 60 years. CONCLUSION: Age is strongly predictive of the likelihood of a response to chemotherapy, time to progression, survival, and risk of myelosuppressive complications. Patients aged > or = 60 have a lower change of benefit and an increased risk of myelosuppressive complications from chemotherapy for astrocytomas compared with younger patients.
Grant et al. (Mon,) studied this question.