Prognostic factors in patients with WHO grade 3 gliomas: The Cleveland Clinic experience.

2053 Background: Anaplastic astrocytoma (AA), anaplastic oligodendroglioma (AO), and anaplastic oligoastrocytoma (AOA) are the major histological categories of WHO grade 3 gliomas. Most randomized trials pool both grades 3 or IV gliomas in their analysis. Consequently, there is limited data on specific prognostic factors for patients (pts) with grade 3 gliomas. Methods: After obtaining IRB approval, the Cleveland Clinic Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center’s database was used to identify pts with histologically confirmed grade 3 glioma at the time of diagnosis. Multivariable analysis was conducted with use of a Cox proportional hazards model and a stepwise selection algorithm that used p<.10 as the criteria for entry and p<0.05 as retention in the model to identify independent predictors of survival. Results: Chart records of 336 pts (52% of whom were men) diagnosed between 1994 and 2009 were included for analysis. The median age at presentation was 50 years (range, 1-88 years). 49% of pts had biopsy onl...