Cutting radiation treatment time for glioblastoma may seem appealing — fewer clinic visits, lower costs — but a new phase 3 trial out of the Netherlands says the tradeoff isn't worth it. Researchers tested whether a compressed, 2-week ultrahypofractionated chemoradiation regimen (6 × 6 Gy) was noninferior to the standard 6-week course (30 × 2 Gy), both paired with temozolomide chemotherapy. The answer was a clear no.

The trial enrolled 135 adults with newly diagnosed glioblastoma across eight Dutch radiotherapy centers. While mortality risk was similar in the first six months, patients in the shorter-treatment arm fared significantly worse afterward — and the complications were harder to manage.

By the Numbers:

• Median overall survival: 21 months (standard) vs. 13 months (ultrahypofractionated)
• 1-year survival rates: 70.6% vs. 52.2%
• Radiation necrosis or pseudoprogression: 47.8% vs. 16.2% (nearly 5× higher risk)
• Dexamethasone use at 6–12 months: ~61% vs. ~32% in the experimental arm

Why it matters: The study authors were unequivocal — the shorter regimen should not replace standard chemoradiation. For clinicians treating glioblastoma, these findings reinforce that the conventional 6-week schedule remains the standard of care.