Seizure control as a new metric in assessing efficacy of tumor treatment in low-grade glioma trials

Neuro Oncol. 2017 Jan;19(1):12-21. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/now190. Epub 2016 Sep 20.

Abstract

Patients with low-grade glioma frequently have brain tumor-related epilepsy, which is more common than in patients with high-grade glioma. Treatment for tumor-associated epilepsy usually comprises a combination of surgery, anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Response to tumor-directed treatment is measured primarily by overall survival and progression-free survival. However, seizure frequency has been observed to respond to tumor-directed treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. A review of the current literature regarding seizure assessment for low-grade glioma patients reveals a heterogeneous manner in which seizure response has been reported. There is a need for a systematic approach to seizure assessment and its influence on health-related quality-of-life outcomes in patients enrolled in low-grade glioma therapeutic trials. In view of the need to have an adjunctive metric of tumor response in these patients, a method of seizure assessment as a metric in brain tumor treatment trials is proposed.

Keywords: glioma; low-grade; metric; scale; seizures.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Brain Neoplasms / complications*
  • Brain Neoplasms / therapy
  • Epilepsy / etiology
  • Epilepsy / prevention & control*
  • Glioma / complications*
  • Glioma / therapy
  • Humans
  • Seizures / etiology
  • Seizures / prevention & control*
  • Treatment Outcome