Restrictive Use of Dexamethasone in Glioblastoma

Overview

The administration of steroids, most commonly dexamethasone (DEX), has established as standard of care during treatment of glioblastoma (GBM) and is widely used during the entire course of the disease including pre- and postoperative management, chemo- and radiotherapy. The primary purpose is to reduce tumor-associated vasogenic edema and to prevent or treat increased intracranial pressure. However, steroids are also linked to a multitude of adverse side effects that may affect survival of GBM patients such as major immunosuppression. The use of steroids during radiotherapy is associated with reduced overall- and progression-free survival and has been identified as an independent poor prognostic factor. Despite these findings, the suspicion of GBM often triggers the administration of DEX in routine clinical practice, regardless of neurological symptoms, tumor size, or extension of cerebral edema. The purpose of this study is to assess whether selected GBM patients can be treated safely with a restrictive DEX regimen from referral to the neurosurgical center until discharge. The primary objective is to determine the failure rate of a restrictive DEX regimen defined as edema or mass effect leading to any of the following: GCS deterioration ≥ 2 points, NIHSS increase ≥ 3 points, increase of midline Shift ≥ 2mm, or any surgical rescue procedure for increasing mass effect.

Background Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and devastating malignant brain tumor in adults. Patients with glioblastoma face a poor prognosis. Despite maximal treatment, most patients suffer tumor progression after 6-7 months and die within 1-2 years. Standard treatment for newly diagnosed glioblastoma contains maximal safe surgery and adjuvant radiochemotherapy with temozolomide. Additional administration of steroids has established as standard of care during treatment of GBM. It is widely used during the entire course of the disease including pre- and postoperative management, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Dexamethasone (DEX) is the most frequently used steroid. The main purpose is to reduce the tumor associated vasogenic cerebral edema, to prevent or treat increased intracranial pressure. In addition, DEX helps to cope with adverse effects of GBM-treatment like nausea, vomiting and fatigue. However, steroids are also linked to a multitude of adverse side effects that may affect the survival of GBM patients such as major immunosuppression, and metabolic changes like hyperglycemia. The use of steroids during radiotherapy is associated with reduced overall- and progression-free survival and has been identified as an independent poor prognostic factor. DEX was also related to a poor prognosis in recurrent GBM. Despite these findings, in routine clinical practice, the suspicion of glioblastoma often triggers the administration of DEX, regardless of neurologic symptoms or the extension of cerebral edema. Many patients are treated with larger doses of DEX per day before being referred to a neurosurgical center and are kept on steroids during the entire treatment. On the other hand, the clinical experience shows that GBM-patients with no, or only mild neurologic symptoms, normal intracranial pressure and relatively small cerebral edema can be managed without administration of DEX. The rationale for this study is to objectify the criteria and safety of a restrictive DEX regimen (based on standardized clinical and radiological criteria). A restrictive DEX regimen may help to reduce over-use, limit the number of patients exposed to the adverse effects of DEX, and potentially improve survival in GBM-patients. The purpose of this study is to assess whether selected GBM patients can be treated safely with a restrictive DEX regimen from referral to the neurosurgical center until discharge. Objective The primary objective is to determine the failure rate of a restrictive DEX regimen defined as edema or mass effect leading to any of the following: GCS deterioration ≥ 2 points, NIHSS increase ≥ 3 points, increase of midline Shift ≥ 2mm, or any surgical rescue procedure for increasing mass effect. Methods All patients referred to the neurosurgical center with suspicion of glioblastoma are screened for inclusion- and exclusion criteria. If eligible and consenting of the patient to the study protocol, no steroids will be administered until discharge (except optional intraoperative single shot dexamethasone of max. 4mg if necessary). If steroids have been administered for a maximum of one day before referral, they will be stopped immediately. Patients are followed clinically. If one of the above-described failure criteria occurs, the primary endpoint is reached and DEX will be administered.