Hypofractionated Radiotherapy

This study was a multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled, phase Ⅲ clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of hypofractionated concurrent radiotherapy followed by sequential temozolomide after surgery in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

A total of 420 subjects were enrolled in this study, randomized 1:1. According to the changes in overall survival time after postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy with different radiation doses, the stratification factors included the extent of surgical resection (total resection vs subtotal resection); The time of postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy (less than 28 days or more than 28 days); MGMT promoter methylation expression (positive or negative).

The study design was as follows: Participants were required to undergo a screening period within 14 days before randomization to determine eligibility. Subjects who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups at a 1:1 ratio: trial group, hypofractionated concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by at least 6 cycles of adjuvant temozolomide; The control group was treated with the existing standardized treatment (standard dose of concurrent chemoradiotherapy and at least 6 cycles of temozolomide adjuvant chemotherapy).

Experimental group: subjects randomly assigned to the experimental group were required to start treatment within 7 working days. The experimental group received hypofractionated radiotherapy with a total dose of 52.5Gy, 3.5 Gy/ fraction, 15 fractions, 5 fractions per week, and temozolomide was given for 21 days. Sequential temozolomide chemotherapy was started 4 weeks after the end of chemoradiotherapy. Sequential chemotherapy was given 5 days before each 28-day cycle. During the study period, the experimental group was required to complete the vital signs, physical examination, laboratory examination and other examinations within the specified period. After randomization, the experimental group underwent radiologic response assessments (or as deemed necessary by the investigator based on clinical symptoms) and QOLs at the end of radiotherapy, 3-4 weeks after the end of radiotherapy, and every 12 weeks (±7 days). Radiologic response assessments required plain and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. If there were residual lesions after surgery, measurable lesions were evaluated according to RANO standard case criteria.

Control group: subjects randomly assigned to the experimental group were treated within 7 working days. The control group received conventional fractionated radiotherapy with a dose of 60Gy, 2Gy per fraction, 30 fractions, 5 fractions per week, and temozolomide was given for a total of 42 days. Sequential temozolomide chemotherapy was started 4 weeks after the end of chemoradiotherapy. Sequential chemotherapy was given 5 days before each 28-day cycle. During the study period, the experimental group was required to complete the vital signs, physical examination, laboratory examination and other examinations within the specified period. After randomization, the experimental group underwent radiologic response assessments (or as deemed necessary by the investigator based on clinical symptoms) and QOLs at the end of radiotherapy, 3-4 weeks after the end of radiotherapy, and every 12 weeks (±7 days). Radiologic response assessments required plain and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Measurable lesions assessed according to RANO criteria were required if residual lesions were present after surgery.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Newly diagnosed glioblastoma confirmed by histopathology or molecular pathology;
2. Complete or partial tumor resection or biopsy via neurosurgery;
3. The age of signing the informed consent form was 18-70 years old, male or female; (4) KPS score ≥60; (5) expected survival time ≥6 months;

6. Radiotherapy should be started within 6 weeks after surgery; 7. Vital organ function meets the following requirements (excluding the use of any blood components and cell growth factors within 14 days) : Normal bone marrow reserve: white blood cell (WBC) ≥3.0×109/L, neutrophil count (NEUT) ≥1.5×109/L, platelet count (PLT) ≥80×109/L, hemoglobin (Hb) ≥90 g/L Normal renal function or serum creatinine (SCr) ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) or creatinine clearance ≥50 ml/ minute (Cockcroft-Gault equation) Normal liver function or total bilirubin (TBIL) ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level ≤ 2.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN); 8. Able and willing to follow the study and follow-up procedures; 9. Men and women of childbearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception throughout the study and for 6 months after the end of treatment. Female subjects of childbearing potential were required to have a negative blood pregnancy test within 72 hours before the first dose.

10. The subjects voluntarily participated in this clinical study and signed the informed consent form. The compliance was good and the subjects could cooperate with the follow-up.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Received any previous systemic antitumor therapy against the target lesion;
2. Prior radiation therapy to the head;
3. Had a history of low-grade glioma and the current tumor transitioned to glioblastoma;
4. The patient had glioma in other parts in the past, and now had metastasis, and the metastatic site was glioblastoma.
5. Subjects were unable to undergo MRI examination or unable to undergo enhanced MRI examination.
6. Patients who received bevacizumab or iodine internal radiation within one month before enrollment;
7. Participants who participated in other clinical trials within 1 month before enrollment;
8. Subjects with severe trauma or severe infection within 1 month before enrollment, including but not limited to infectious complications requiring hospitalization, bacteremia, severe pneumonia, etc.
9. Severe cardiovascular disease: grade Ⅱ or above myocardial ischemia or myocardial infarction, uncontrolled arrhythmia (QTc interval ≥ 450 ms in men and ≥ 470 ms in women); Patients with grade ⅲ-ⅳ cardiac dysfunction (according to the New York Heart Association NYHA classification, see Appendix 3) or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 50% on echocardiography;
10. Subjects underwent major surgery (excluding glioma surgery) within 4 weeks before enrollment;
11. The subjects had a history of psychotropic drug abuse or drug use;
12. Patients with other malignant tumors within 5 years before enrollment (if cured) were excluded;
13. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or known acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), active hepatitis B (HBV DNA≥500 IU/ml), hepatitis C (hepatitis C antibody positive and HCV-RNA higher than the detection limit of the analytical method) or co-infection with hepatitis B and C;
14. Subjects were allergic to temozolomide or could not receive temozolomide treatment for other reasons;
15. The results of blood pregnancy test of female subjects during non-lactation period and within 7 days before the first study treatment were positive. The subject (male or female) declined to commit to using at least one acceptable contraceptive method (i.e., using an intrauterine device (IUD), condom, any form of hormonal contraceptive, or abstinence, etc.) for the entire duration of the study and for 3 months after the last study treatment;
16. Other conditions that increase the risk associated with participating in the study or the study drug and, in the investigator's judgment, may make the subject ineligible for the study;
17. The investigator determined that he was not fit to participate in the study.