Survival analysis of glioblastoma patients in pennsylvania according to area deprivation index and idh status

Abstract INTRODUCTION Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor with a universally poor prognosis. Living in disadvantaged neighborhoods is associated with poor health outcomes, including increased cancer incidence. This study was designed to elucidate the relationship between GBM patients’ survival, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status, and residential areas of deprivation in the state of Pennsylvania. METHODS Patients from Pennsylvania with a pathological diagnosis of GBM WHO Grade IV between January 2007 and December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed in the Penn State Health database. Demographic variables and molecular features were assessed. Area Deprivation Index (ADI) is a validated measure of regional socioeconomic deprivation that indexes neighborhoods by percentile, with low ADI scores representing less deprivation. Patients were assigned to low ( < 50) or high ( ≥ 51) ADI groups. Survival was measured against IDH status and ADI score; log-rank tests were performed. RESULTS 121 GBM WHO Grade IV patients were identified (median age at diagnosis: 63, 39.7% female, 60.3% male, 93.4% of white race). Among those, 64 (52.9%) had low ADI, and 57 (47.1%) had high ADI. Patients with high ADI had similar overall survival (OS) rates and progression free survival (PFS) at 18 months (56% OS, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 48-64%; 37.4% PFS, 95%CI: 30-44%; P=0.27) compared to patients with low ADI (50% OS, 95%CI: 43-57%; 32.4% PFS, 95%CI: 26-39%; P = 0.27). Further classification by IDH status resulted in 17 (14%) IDH mutant (IDHm) and 104 (86%) IDH wildtype (IDHwt) patients. Survival analysis demonstrated no significant difference in OS between IDHwt and IDHm patients, regardless of ADI score. CONCLUSION The aggressive nature of GBM requires early diagnostic approaches to impact survival. Living in socioeconomic disadvantaged areas may diminish survival outcomes; however, our data indicate that GBM may be too aggressive for ADI to have a significant impact on prognosis.