What is it about?
This study looked at how people with brain gliomas—tumors of different grades—live after treatment that combines surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Using modern 2021 WHO molecular classification, the researchers analyzed data from 179 patients treated in Poland and France. They found that the presence of IDH1/2 mutations and 1p/19q codeletion strongly improved survival, while a larger irradiated brain volume and lower white blood cell counts were linked to shorter survival. Patients who kept higher lymphocyte levels during treatment lived longer. The study also revealed that chemotherapy helped people with grade 3 gliomas live longer, but it did not benefit all grade 2 cases. The work highlights how genetics, blood changes, and radiotherapy planning together influence patient outcomes in everyday clinical settings.
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Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
Why is it important?
This research provides one of the first “real-world” analyses based on the latest WHO 2021 glioma classification, bridging the gap between modern molecular understanding and actual treatment outcomes. Unlike controlled clinical trials, this study reflects what happens in routine practice, using real data from multiple centers. The findings may guide doctors to tailor therapy more precisely—by considering tumor genetics, blood cell monitoring, and treatment volume—to improve survival and quality of life for glioma patients. It also underscores the importance of integrating clinical, biological, and radiotherapy information for personalized care.
Perspectives
From my perspective, this study marks a crucial step toward understanding how new molecular classifications translate into patient outcomes beyond clinical trials. It shows that even simple, routinely measured factors—like lymphocyte counts—carry major prognostic value when interpreted in context with genetics and treatment details. As the field moves toward personalized oncology, such real-world analyses are essential to refine guidelines and bridge the gap between research and daily patient care.
Krzysztof Smółka
Institute of Mechatronics and Information Systems, Lodz University of Technology
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Real-world survival and prognostic factors in WHO 2021 classified gliomas treated with chemo-radiotherapy, Scientific Reports, October 2025, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-21934-2.
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