Clioblastorna multiforme(GBM) is one of the most malignant brain tumor in adults. Clinically, this tumor is characterized by its rapid deteriorated course with reported 2-year survival rate rarely exceeding 15%. From the biological viewpoint, GBM is well-known by its rapid proliferating activity, short doubling time, and intrinsic radioresistence. With the recent advances in radiation biology, a new altered fraction treatment called multiple daily fractionated radiation therapy (MDF-RT) by shortening the overall treatment time, is therefore designed to counteract the rapid proliferating characteristics of GBM. We initiated a prospective trial of MDF-RT in patients with GBM at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between January 1981 and June 1988. Twenty one patients were treated with MDF-RT schedule, consisting of 28-35Gy whole brain irradiation in 14 fr (2-2.5Gy per fr) given 3 fr per day with 4-hour split intervals. The treatment had a break of 3-4 weeks and followed by cone-down boost 6-20Gy in normal fraction. Another 34 patients, referred to as control group, were treated with conventional daily fraction, consisting of 50Gy whole brain irradiation and l0Gy cone-down boost. The actuarial 1-year and 2-year suryival rate were 32% and 5% respectively for MDF-RT group, 38% and 4% respectively for control group. There was no observable survival difference between the two treatment groups. We concluded that the currently designed MDF-RT schedule had not yielded a superior result than that of normal control group.
Clioblastorna multiforme(GBM) is one of the most malignant brain tumor in adults. Clinically, this tumor is characterized by its rapid deteriorated course with reported 2-year survival rate rarely exceeding 15%. From the biological viewpoint, GBM is well-known by its rapid proliferating activity, short doubling time, and intrinsic radioresistence. With the recent advances in radiation biology, a new altered fraction treatment called multiple daily fractionated radiation therapy (MDF-RT) by shortening the overall treatment time, is therefore designed to counteract the rapid proliferating characteristics of GBM. We initiated a prospective trial of MDF-RT in patients with GBM at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between January 1981 and June 1988. Twenty one patients were treated with MDF-RT schedule, consisting of 28-35Gy whole brain irradiation in 14 fr (2-2.5Gy per fr) given 3 fr per day with 4-hour split intervals. The treatment had a break of 3-4 weeks and followed by cone-down boost 6-20Gy in normal fraction. Another 34 patients, referred to as control group, were treated with conventional daily fraction, consisting of 50Gy whole brain irradiation and l0Gy cone-down boost. The actuarial 1-year and 2-year suryival rate were 32% and 5% respectively for MDF-RT group, 38% and 4% respectively for control group. There was no observable survival difference between the two treatment groups. We concluded that the currently designed MDF-RT schedule had not yielded a superior result than that of normal control group.