Astroblastomas: a Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-based patterns of care analysis

Abstract

Objective: This study sought to report patient characteristics, risk factors, and trends in management for astroblastoma patients.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted utilizing the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program of the National Cancer Institute.

Results: Two hundred and thirty-nine patients were identified, with 206 patients receiving treatment. The median age at diagnosis was 35 years (range 0 to 84 years). Tumor location was available for 177 patients, and the majority were supratentorial (n = 144, 81.3%). The median overall survival and cause-specific survival for the cohort receiving treatment was 55 and 65 months, respectively. On univariate analysis, patients receiving surgery alone compared to only radiotherapy displayed improved overall survival (OS) and cause-specific survival (CSS) with a 5-year OS of 62.2% vs. 27.3%, P < .001, and CSS of 67.3% vs. 31.9%, P = .003. Supratentorial tumor location was associated with worse survival, with an estimated 5-year OS of 44.9% for supratentorial tumors compared to 75% for infratentorial tumors (hazard ratio 3.41 [95% CI, 1.76 to 6.62]; P < .001) and CSS of 47.5% (supratentorial) to 82% (infratentorial) (hazard ratio 3.95 [95% CI, 1.81 to 8.62]; P = .001). Age >60 years at diagnosis and treatment before 1990 were correlated with decreased survival on both the univariate and the multivariate analyses.

Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the largest report of astroblastoma patients described in the literature. Supratentorial tumor location, older age, and treatment prior to 1990 were poor prognostic factors.

Keywords: Astroblastoma; Glial tumor; SEER; Supratentorial.