Risk Factors for Cognitive Impairment in High-Grade Glioma PatientsTreated with Postoperative Radiochemotherapy / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

ABSTRACT

Purpose@#Fractionated radiotherapy as well as concomitant and adjuvant chemotherapy such astemozolomide for postoperative high-grade glioma (HGG) patients improves progressionfreesurvival and overall survival. Multiple factors such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy,tumor grade, residual tumor volume, and genetic modifications might play a role in the formationof cognitive impairment. The risk factors of cognitive impairment in postoperativepatients with HGG receiving radiotherapy and chemotherapy remains a concern in this population.The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for cognitive impairment inpatients of postoperative HGG. @*Materials and Methods@#A total of 229 patients with HGG who underwent surgery were analyzed. Cognitive impairmentwas defined as a decrease of Cognitive Assessment Montreal (MoCA)’s score in atleast two cognitive domains or any MoCA’s score of less than 26 points at the time of studycompared with baseline level. Multiple potential risk factors including methylated status ofthe O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter, glioma World HealthOrganization (WHO) grade, residual tumor volume, education, and sex were analyzed. Coxunivariate and multivariate regression analysis was used to detect the significant risk factorsfor cognitive impairment. @*Results@#At the end of follow-up among the 229 patients, 147 patients (67%) developed cognitiveimpairment. 82 patients (36%) remained in normal cognitive condition. In multivariate analysis,unmethylated MGMT promoter (hazard ratio [HR], 1.679; 95% confidence interval [CI],1.212 to 2.326; p=0.002), glioblastoma (HR, 1.550; 95% CI, 1.117 to 2.149; p=0.009),and residual tumor volume > 5.58 cm3 (HR, 1.454; 95% CI, 1.047 to 2.020; p=0.026) wereindependent risk factors for cognitive impairment. @*Conclusion@#Methylated status of the MGMT promoter, glioma WHO grade, and residual tumor volumemight be risk factors for the cognitive impairment in postoperative patients with HGG.