Background/Aim: The current meta-analysis evaluated the survival outcomes of newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) alone and with RT + temozolomide (TMZ). Methods: Relevant studies were identified by an extensive literature search in Medline, Current Contents and Cochrane databases by 2 independent reviewers using the terms “glioblastoma multiforme/glioblastoma, TMZ, radiation therapy/RT and survival.” Results: Results revealed a median survival of 13.41-19 months in the combined treatment group, as opposed to 7.7-17.1 months in the RT-alone group. Progression-free survival (PFS) was also significantly different between the 2 groups (RT + TMZ, 6.3-13 months; RT-alone, 5-7.6 months). While there was no significant difference in the 6-month survival and 6-month PFS rates between the RT + TMZ and RT groups (pooled OR 0.690; p = 0.057 and OR 0.429, p = 0.052, respectively), the 1-year survival and 1-year PFS rates showed significant difference (OR 0.469; p = 0.030 and OR 0.245, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Concomitant RT + TMZ is more effective and improves the overall survival and PFS in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.