NQPC-08 Short-time intensive rehabilitation for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma

PURPOSE: Many reports presented that patients with GBM had stable HRQoL during their remission time. However, there are few reports on the situation of ADL that is the basis of QOL. This prospective study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of intensive rehabilitation for physically disabled patients with GBM after the initial treatment. PATIENTS and METHOD: Sixteen patients with newly-diagnosed glioblastoma presenting with severe physical disabilities were registered after the completion of postsurgical radiation therapy combined with TMZ. All patients were evaluated by means of a core set of clinical scales of Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Sitting Balance score, Standing Balance score, and Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE). Patients were evaluated before the beginning and at the end of rehabilitation treatment. The daily rehabilitation program consisted of individual 180-min. sessions of treatment, seven days a week, for four to six consecutive weeks. Speech therapy was included when aphasia was diagnosed. RESULTS: Fifteen of 16 patients presented with improved physical functioning score, and seven of 16 patients returned to their independent life at home, CONCLUSION: A short-time intensive rehabilitation (4 to 6seeks) is effective for GBM patients during TMZ withdrawal period after the postoperative radiation therapy. This effective program requires close teamwork with the medical cooperation teams in the medical and rehabilitation hospitals: explanation to patients of the significance of the short-term rehabilitation, which is different from stroke rehabilitation, adjustment of hospitalization date considering radiotherapy and chemotherapy schedule, and adjustment of MRI imaging or bevacizumab administration schedule during rehabilitation.