Outcome and Prognostic Factors of Low-Grade Astrocytoma: Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran (2006–2013)

Primary brain tumors, although not among the most common site of tumors, are considered an important pathology, due to their high mortality rate. Astrocytoma is a glial brain tumor with a high mortality rate. The predictors of the patients’ outcome is thus of great importance. In the present study, we investigated the results of 7–year follow–up of patients with astrocytoma in order to determine the prognostic factors associated with patients’ survival.

In this cross–sectional study, 115 patients suffering from astrocytoma grade II, who referred to radio–oncology department of Nemazee hospital between 2006 and 2013, were included. The patients’ overall survival (OS) and disease–free survival (DFS) were recorded and their difference according to demographic and clinical characteristics of patients, as well as the treatment used, was evaluated using SPSS v.25.

Mean age of patients was 35.34±15.17 years; most were younger than 40 years old (71%) and men (59%). Mean OS and DFS were 74.90±43.05 and 26.61±26.97 months, respectively. Patients younger than 40 had a significantly longer mean OS (84.04±37.93 vs. 53.04±47.41 months; P=0.004). Mean DFS was different according to chemotherapy and dose of radiotherapy (P=0.041 and 0.01, respectively), while OS was not (P>0.05).

Considering the difference in outcome of patients, specifically DFS, according to the performance of chemotherapy and the dose of radiotherapy, it is recommended to pay greater attention to appropriate choice of treatment strategy of patients with astrocytoma. Further randomized controlled studies are required to determine the predictors of patients’ outcome.