Radiotherapy for Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma in the Elderly: What Is the Standard?

ABSTRACT

Nearly half of the patients with newly diagnosed glioblastomas are aged ≥65 years. Unfortunately, these elderly patients with glioblastoma (GBM-e) demonstrate detrimental survival. However, the optimal treatment for GBM-e after surgery remains controversial. Conventionally fractionated radiotherapy (CFRT) of 60 Gy, hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT), temozolomide (TMZ), or a combination of these treatments with or without tumor treating fields can be considered. Although evidence has indicated a non-inferiority of HFRT compared to CFRT in GBM-e treated with radiotherapy (RT) alone throughout the past, the optimal RT scheme (CFRT vs. HFRT), when combined with TMZ, has never been investigated in a prospective randomized fashion for GBM-e patients suitable for radiochemotherapy. Several other issues make the treatment of GBM-e even more challenging. In this review, current evidence regarding RT in GBM-e, as well as issues that need to be addressed, is discussed.