IMCT-13LYMPHOPENIA IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH GLIOBLASTOMA TREATED WITH RADIATION AND TEMOZOLOMIDE

BACKGROUND: Management of elderly patients with high grade glioma often includes radiation therapy (RT) +/- temozolomide (TMZ). A previous report showed that standard RT/TMZ resulted in severe lymphopenia in 40% of patients (median age of 57) with an associated shorter survival (Grossman, 2011). Similar findings were described in patients with head and neck, non-small cell lung, and pancreatic cancer. This study is designed to evaluate whether elderly patients (age ≥65) with glioblastoma (GBM) develop severe treatment related lymphopenia (TRL) after RT +/- TMZ and whether TRL is associated with reduced survival. METHODS: Elderly patients (age ≥65) newly diagnosed with GBM and followed-up at Washington University (2000-2013) were eligible. Radiation parameters and serial total lymphocyte counts (TLC) were collected. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients were eligible: median KPS 70, median age 71 years (range 65 - 86) with 57% of patients >70 years, 52% female, 32% received RT