The results of the NOA-08 (refs96,97) and Nordic trials98 led to MGMT promoter methylation testing becoming standard practice in many European countries for the management of elderly patients not considered eligible for combined modality treatment: patients with tumours lacking MGMT promoter methylation or of unknown MGMT promoter methylation status should be treated with hypofractionated radiotherapy alone whereas those with tumours with MGMT promoter methylation status should receive temozolomide alone (5 out of 28 days until disease progression or for 12 months)97. This evidence concerns the gene MGMT and neoplasm.