Abstract
Abstract only
305
Background: Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is the most common and most deadly type of human glioma. Nearly half of all gliomas are diagnosed as GBM at which point the median survival of patients is approximately one year and the two-year survival rates are approximately 10%. Current treatment options for GBM include surgical resection, external beam radiation, and oral temozolomide chemotherapy. However, the patterns of chemotherapy use in GBM as well as the patient characteristics that determine its use have yet to be investigated. Methods: This is a retrospective study of glioblastoma patients (n = 96,966, making this the largest trial ever on glioblastoma) diagnosed between 2000 and 2011 in the NCDB. The NCDB contains nearly 70% of new cancer cases diagnosed in the United States and consists of data from over 1,500 cancer programs across the country. A chi-squared test was used to determine any differences in the characteristics of patients who did or did not receive chemotherapy. Results: Patients who were younger than 70 years of age, male, white, had private/managed insurance, no comorbidities, household income greater than $49,000, were receiving radiation therapy, and diagnosed between 2004 and 2011 were significantly more likely to have received chemotherapy to treat glioblastoma (see Table). Conclusions: Understanding any potential barriers in the use of chemotherapy to treat glioblastoma can help improve its utilization among people of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. [Table: see text]