Glioma: Chemotherapy, systematic review and IPD meta-analysis
Chemotherapy in adult high-grade glioma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual patient data from 12 randomised trials
Is it helpful to give chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy to people with a brain tumour?
What was this study about?
Gliomas are a type of brain tumour. They can occur in adults and children. Adults who have a glioma may have an operation to try to remove the tumour. They may also have radiotherapy (treatment with x-rays) and/or chemotherapy (drug treatment). Sadly, people who get a high-grade (or more malignant) glioma usually die fairly quickly.
We did a systematic review and meta analysis of individual patient data (IPD) to find out whether it is helpful to give chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy to adults with high-grade glioma. This study brought together information from the reports of randomised controlled trials.. These trials compared what happened to people who had been given chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy with people who only received radiotherapy.
What difference did this study make?
This study showed that it is helpful to give chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy to people with high-grade glioma. The people who received chemotherapy in the trials we looked at lived longer than those who didn't.
Contact details
mrcctu.meta-analysis@ucl.ac.uk
Who funded the study?
The Medical Research Council.
When did it take place?
This study was published in 2002. The trials included were done between 1969 and 1997.
Where did it take place?
The study was carried out by the Medical Research council in the UK, but brought together results of trials from around the world.
Who was included?
Patients with high-grade glioma who took part in randomised controlled trials comparing radiotherapy alone with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The study brought together 12 trials from all over the world. These trials included over 3,000 people with a high-grade glioma.