Japanese journal of clinical oncologyDec 25, 2007

MGMT protein levels and outlook in patients with recurring glioblastoma treated with temozolomide

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Mar 31, 2026

Abstract

The overall response rate to the standard 5-day temozolomide regimen in patients with recurrent glioblastoma was 23.5%.

One complete response and three partial responses were observed among the patients treated.
Median progression-free survival time was 2.2 months.
Median overall survival time was 9.9 months from the start of temozolomide therapy.
Patients with low MGMT protein expression exhibited significantly better progression-free survival and overall survival compared to those with high expression.
Low MGMT expression and re-resection at relapse were identified as significant independent favorable prognostic factors for overall survival.
Lymphopenia was the most common severe hematological toxicity, occurring in 22.2% of patients.

Simplified

BACKGROUND: Temozolomide (TMZ) is active against newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM), and O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is implicated in resistance to TMZ and nitrosoureas. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of the standard 5-day TMZ regimen in patients with recurrent GBM after initial therapy including nitrosourea-based chemotherapy, in conjunction with an analysis of the prognostic value of MGMT protein expression regarding response to TMZ and survival.

METHODS: From September 2003 to January 2007, 30 patients having recurrent GBM received 150-200 mg/m(2)/day of TMZ for five consecutive days every 28 days. Tumor tissue from 19 patients was analysed for MGMT protein expression using western blotting, and 17 of them were assessable for a response.

RESULTS: The overall response rate was 23.5% (one complete response and three partial responses). Six patients had stable disease (35.3%). Median progression-free survival (PFS) time was 2.2 months, and median overall survival (OS) time was 9.9 months from the initiation of TMZ therapy. Patients with low MGMT protein expression had a significantly improved PFS (P = 0.016) and OS (P = 0.019) compared to those with high expression. Both low MGMT expression (P = 0.040) and re-resection at relapse (P = 0.014) persisted as significant independent favorable prognostic factors for OS. The most common grade 3 and 4 hematological toxicity was lymphopenia (22.2%).

CONCLUSIONS: The standard 5-day TMZ regimen resulted in moderate antitumor activity with an acceptable safety profile in patients with nitrosourea-pretreated recurrent GBM, and protein expression of MGMT is an important prognostic factor for patients treated with TMZ even after recurrence.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View Full Text ↗

MGMT protein levels and outlook in patients with recurring glioblastoma treated with temozolomide

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief