Comparison of surgery with or without adjuvant radiotherapy in treating central neurocytoma: a single-center retrospective real-world study.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) in patients with central neurocytoma (CN).

Methods: The study included 68 patients with CN retrospectively, was further divided into surgery + RT group (31 patients) and surgery alone group (37 patients). Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse reactions (AEs) were compared between the two groups.

Results: The median follow-up duration was 82.2 (interquartile range, 64.7-104.5) months. Patients in the surgery + RT group tended to have longer PFS than those in the surgery alone group (5-year PFS rate: 92.7% vs. 86.3%; P = 0.074). There was no significant difference in OS between the two groups (5-year OS rate: 96.8% vs. 94.3%; P = 0.639). Subgroup analysis revealed a significant improvement in PFS in patients receiving RT after surgery in patients who underwent subtotal resection (STR) (P = 0.045). In the overall population, univariate multivariate analysis revealed that gross total resection (GTR) (P = 0.002), tumor location in the unilateral ventricle (P = 0.008), and MIB-1 (Ki-67) labeling index (LI) < 5% (P = 0.009) were favorable independent prognostic factors for PFS. Whereas tumor location in the unilateral ventricle (P = 0.043) was a favorable independent prognostic factor for OS. Moreover, RT patients experienced AEs (Grade 1-2, well-tolerated).

Conclusions: Adjuvant RT in the treatment of CNs showed satisfactory safety, and postoperative RT could improve PFS in STR patients. Furthermore, GTR, tumor development in the unilateral ventricle, and MIB-1 LI < 5% were found to be favorable factors affecting the prognosis of CNs.