Recurrence pattern analysis after re-irradiation with bevacizumab in recurrent malignant glioma patients (Radiation Oncology)

Background: The aim of the present analysis was to evaluate the recurrence pattern in patients with recurrent malignant glioma after re-irradiation in combination with bevacizumab as there is limited data on how to optimally choose dose, fractionation and delineation margins. Methods: Thirty-one patients with recurrent malignant glioma treated with re-irradiation and bevacizumab after previous chemoradiotherapy (concurrent temozolomide 75?mg/m2/d according to the EORTC/NCIC trial) and [18?F]FET-PET and/or MRI confirmed recurrence were retrospectively analyzed. Bevacizumab was applied twice during fractionated re-irradiation (10?mg/kg, d1?+?d15, median 36?Gy, conventionally fractionated). Recurrence patterns were assessed by means of [18?F]FET-PET and/or MRI. Results: Median follow-up was 34.0?months for all patients [95%-CI, 27.7-40.3] and median post-recurrence survival 10.8?months [95%-CI, 9.2-12.4]. Concerning the recurrence patterns, 61.3% of these were located in-field (19 patients), 22.6% were marginal (7 patients) and 16.1% ex-field (5 patients). No influence on the recurrence pattern was observed according to sex, WHO grade, maintenance chemotherapy or MGMT methylation status whereas planning target volume (PTV) size had a significant influence on the recurrence pattern (p?=?0.032). PTV sizes?>?75?ml were associated with a higher in-field recurrence rate and lower median post-recurrence progression-free survival (8.5 vs. 4.9?months, p?=?0.016). Conclusions: After the administration of re-irradiation with bevacizumab the recurrence pattern seems to be mainly centrally located. The PTV size was the main predictor for a marginal/ex-field recurrence.