Among patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme, adding Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) to maintenance temozolomide significantly prolongs both median and long-term survival, according to a study presented 21st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society of Neuro-Oncology (SNO).1

TTFields is a frequency-tuned, anti-mitotic, physical treatment modality delivered to the brain through a patient-operated, portable medical device called Optune. Results of a pre-specific successful interim analysis of the international, phase 3 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00916409) comparing TTFields and temozolomide with temozolomide alone after radiotherapy and adjuvant temozolomide led to the approval of TTFields for the treatment of adult patients with glioblastoma.

A mature analysis of 695 patients with a median follow-up of 36 months showed that adding TTFields to temozolomide significantly reduces the risk of progression or death by 37% compared with temozolomide alone (hazard ratio [HR], 0.63; P < .00005). Median progression-free survival was 6.7 months (95% CI, 6.1-8.1) with TTFields and 4.0 months (95% CI, 3.8-4.3) with temozolomide alone.

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Researchers also found that treatment with TTFields reduced the risk of death by 35% vs maintenance temozolomide alone (HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.54-0.79; P < .00062); median overall survival from randomization was 21 months and 16 months, respectively.

The 2-year, 3-year, and 4-year survival rates were also significantly better for patients in the TTFields arm (P < .05 for all time points).

Within 7 weeks after the end of radiation treatment and adjuvant temozolomide, newly diagnosed patients with non-progressive disease were randomly assigned 2:1 to temozolomide 5 days per week plus continuous administration of TTFields or temozolomide alone.

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Additional studies are enrolling patients to evaluate TTFields in combination with bevacizumab with or without temozolomide in recurrent glioblastoma, as well as in other forms of cancer.

Reference

  1. Stupp R, Idbaih A, Steinberg DM, et al. Prospective, multi-center phase III trial of Tumor Treating Fields together with temozolomide compared to temozolomide alone in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Neuro Oncol. 2016;18(suppl 6):i1.

Topics:

Brain Cancer Glioblastoma