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APPENDICES - NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme

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DOI: 10.3310/hta14370 <strong>Health</strong> <strong>Technology</strong> <strong>Assessment</strong> 2010; Vol. 14: No. 37<br />

Study details Population details Treatment details Results Interpretation<br />

Authors’ conclusions Increasing<br />

the light dose increases the odds of<br />

having permanent neurological deficit,<br />

but does not increase survival time,<br />

or time to tumour progression. There<br />

was no difference in recurrence with<br />

increasing light dose<br />

Brief study appraisal This nonrandomised<br />

study appeared to have<br />

far too small a sample size to provide<br />

clinically meaningful results. Results<br />

were not always provided for all three<br />

groups<br />

Mortality Mean survival time was<br />

314 d (sd = 106) in group 2 vs 238 d in<br />

group 3 (sd = 61). Group 1 not stated<br />

Morbidity 16 patients had<br />

recurrence after PDT (four in group<br />

1, six in group 2 and six in group 3),<br />

and two did not. Time to tumour<br />

recurrence was a mean of 150 d in<br />

group 2 vs 131d in group 3. Group 1<br />

not stated<br />

QoL and return to normal<br />

activity Median Karnofsky rating<br />

changed from 90 (pre-PDT) to 85<br />

(post PDT)<br />

AEs Five patients had postoperative<br />

permanent neurological defects (zero<br />

in group 1, two in group 2, and three<br />

in group 3)<br />

Resource use Not assessed<br />

Trial treatments PDT 1500–3700 J<br />

vs PDT 3700–4400 J vs PDT 4400–<br />

5900 J<br />

Intervention PDT 1500–3700 J<br />

(group 1): Intravenous Photofrin<br />

at 2 mg/kg, followed 24 hr later<br />

by anaesthetic and CT or MRI<br />

scan which locates tumour using<br />

stereotactic arc system. Six optical<br />

diffusion tip fibres (1.6 mm) and<br />

central fibre inserted through drill<br />

holes into skull. Red light (630 nm)<br />

from an argon pumped-dye laser was<br />

delivered through optical fibres and<br />

beam splitters to individual diffusion<br />

tip fibres. Tumours were biopsied<br />

(and if no malignancy was found the<br />

patient was excluded from the study).<br />

Patients were advised about sunlight<br />

protection, and about avoiding direct<br />

sunlight and bright artificial light for<br />

6 wk<br />

Comparator PDT 3700–4400 J<br />

(group 2): See above<br />

2nd comparator PDT 4400–5900 J<br />

(group 3): See above<br />

Treatment intention Curative<br />

Palliative<br />

Type(s) of cancer and histology<br />

12 glioblastoma, five anaplastic<br />

astrocytoma, one malignant<br />

ependymoma<br />

Main eligibility criteria Patients<br />

aged 18–75 yr, with supratentorial<br />

primary malignant brain tumours<br />

≤ 5 cm in diameter, a Karnofsky<br />

rating ≥ 60, and who had recurrent<br />

or residual tumours were eligible.<br />

Patients had to have received<br />

radiation therapy > 3 mth prior to<br />

PDT treatment. Further eligibility<br />

criteria were reported<br />

Patient characteristics<br />

Age range: 32–70 yr<br />

Median Karnofsky score: 90<br />

Tumour locations also reported. All<br />

patients had initial surgery, radiation<br />

therapy and chemotherapy before<br />

recurrence<br />

Concomitant treatment Steroid<br />

therapy if required<br />

Authors<br />

Krishnamurthy et al.<br />

(2000) 138<br />

Data source Full<br />

published paper<br />

Country USA<br />

Language English<br />

Study design<br />

Non-RCT<br />

No. of<br />

participants<br />

Total: 18<br />

Intervention: Six<br />

Comparator: Six<br />

2nd Comparator:<br />

Six<br />

No. of recruiting<br />

centres One<br />

Follow-up period<br />

and frequency<br />

Days 1 and 2, at<br />

discharge from<br />

hospital, at 1, 4 and<br />

6 wk, then at 3-mth<br />

intervals<br />

© 2010 Queen’s Printer and Controller of HMSO. All rights reserved.<br />

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