Research News for the Fourth Two Months of 2021

This is the tenth article of the project which aims to periodically collect (every two months) the news of research on possible treatments for glioblastoma multiforme. However, this is the first time since Glioblastoma.IT became a fully operational ODV (Voluntary Organization). The site will approach 9,000 visitors this month!
Below are the news that I considered most significant. As for the previous articles in the series, each news will be preceded by the original title with a link to the source and followed by a short comment. The criterion with which the news is chosen is always to include in general only the news related to research in the clinical phase, unless the research potential for the treatment of glioblastoma is not truly remarkable.

The 2021 WHO Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System: a summary 
This is the new classification of brain tumors. It is different and more specific than the previous one. Glioblastoma Multiforme was divided into 2 groups: Glioblastoma IDH mutant and Glioblastoma IDH Wildtype. This makes sense as IDH Mutant and IDH Wild-type tumors behave very differently and in general life expectancy is also very different as patients with IDH Mutant Glioblastoma live twice as long as those without the mutation (31 months with IDH mutations and 15 months without).

KIYATEC Marks Glioblastoma Awareness Day by Initiating Use of 3D Predict™ Glioma Test Outside of Clinical Study
This is a new test that can accurately predict which of the different drugs works best for a specific glioblastoma. Research has shown that in some cases of glioblastoma, patients with unmethylated MGMT (who would not normally respond well to Temodar) the test predicted that it would work and in fact it did. Similarly in some patients with methylated MGMT (on whom Temodar should work well), this test predicted that they would not respond and in fact did not work. The test also predicts the drug combination that might work. The test requires live cancer cells, so it is necessary to prepare a few days before the surgery so that the surgeon can request a test kit. It is not yet known the cost of the test and whether or not it is covered by the health system.

Case Report: End-Stage Recurrent Glioblastoma Treated With a New Noninvasive Non-Contact Oncomagnetic Device         
Obviously 1 case report does not prove that a treatment works but the tumor volume curve of this case is impressive. It is a different helmet from the Optune Device that should be worn only for 3 hours a day and does not require the scalp to be bare. It is shown that the tumour grows in the first 90 days without this treatment and its progressive reduction from the beginning of treatment without any other concomitant treatment.

1st COMBINATION OF TUMOR TREATING FIELDS (TTFIELDS) WITH LOMUSTINE (CCNU) AND TEMOZOLOMIDE (TMZ) IN NEWLY DIAGNOSED GLIOBLASTOMA (GBM) PATIENTS – A BI-CENTRIC ANALYSIS
This combination was tested in a small group of newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients, resulted in an astonishing 20-month progression-free survival rate, and median overall survival has not yet been achieved. This result should be compared with the historical 7.2-month PFS results for Temodar and Optune combined.

A phase Ib/IIa trial of 9 repurposed drugs combined with temozolomide for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma: CUSP9v3
These are finally the published results of the CUSP9v3 trial and they are impressive. The study was not controlled across a control arm and is relatively small, but for patients with recurrent glioblastoma, the 12-month progression-free survival rate was 50%. The CUSP9 protocol is a combination of older non-cancer drugs, along with Temodar. All drugs are readily available and relatively safe. It should be worth trying also for the newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma for a larger number of persons, and this is the purpose of the Phase II and III clinical trials that the research team is preparing. This is the research for which Glioblastoma.IT is raising funds.

World-first trial of cannabis-based drug in glioblastoma
This is a new phase II study in which researchers will evaluate whether adding Sativex (cannabis-based spray) to the current standard chemotherapy treatment (temozolomide) could extend the life of adults diagnosed with glioblastoma recurrence after initial treatment. The study plans to recruit 232 participants in a minimum of 15 hospitals: two-thirds of the participants will be given temozolomide plus Sativex, while a third will be given temozolomide plus placebo.

That’s all for this two-month period. I ask you again and with even more strength to continue to help the fundraising campaign Glioblastoma.it for CUSP9v3 Phase II-III for Emanuele by sharing the link in order to spread the word and raise awareness in as many people as possible. Now, after the release of the remarkable results of the CUSPv3 Phase I experimentation, we are really close to the goal.

If you pay taxes in Italy you can donate your 5×1000 to Glioblastoma.IT ODV by specifying in your tax return the Glioblastoma.IT ODV Tax Code: CF: 90164660327. You too can contribute to finance this clinical trial!

Best of luck to all those fighting glioblastoma and their loved ones!