Research News in the Fourth Two-Months of 2024
We resume our dissemination activities after a short summer break. This is the twenty-seventh article of the project that aims to periodically collect (every two months) the latest research on possible treatments for glioblastoma multiforme. Below is a list of the news that we considered most significant that emerged in the last two months. As with the previous articles in the series, each news item 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 items are chosen is always to generally include only news related to research in the clinical phase, unless the potential of research for the treatment of glioblastoma is truly remarkable.
Exhaustive in vitro evaluation of the 9-drug cocktail CUSP9 for treatment of glioblastoma
You know how long we have been following this multidrug approach. This article reports the results of a study that evaluated the efficacy of the pharmacological cocktail CUSP9 against glioblastoma, testing 511 combinations of drugs on in vitro samples. The results show that a simplified regimen of four drugs (auranofin, disulfiram, itraconazole, sertraline) was as effective as the full protocol in reducing tumor growth. Further in vivo studies are certainly needed to confirm these results but the lesson we can draw is that a multidrug approach well studied in vitro and then applied by selecting patients who are included in the clinical trial perhaps evaluating whether the specific genetic profile of the patient’s glioblastoma is compatible is the way to go.
Application of Delta T1 maps for quantitative and objective assessment of extent of resection and survival prediction in glioblastoma
This recent study used Delta T1 maps to quantitatively and objectively assess the extent of glioblastoma resection and predict survival. The results show that residual tumor volume less than 5 cm³, measured with this technique, is a strong predictor of survival, more reliable than radiologist impression. Delta T1 maps could become a valuable tool for intraoperative neurosurgery and postoperative monitoring.
No benefit from TMZ treatment in glioblastoma with truly unmethylated MGMT promoter: Reanalysis of the CE.6 and the pooled Nordic/NOA-08 trials in elderly glioblastoma patients
A study reanalyzed data from glioblastoma patients treated in the CE.6 and Nordic/NOA-08 trials. The results show that patients with an unmethylated MGMT promoter do not benefit from treatment with temozolomide (TMZ). These patients respond better to radiotherapy, avoiding the toxicity of TMZ without compromising results. This finding could improve treatment management for the most fragile patients. The study used a cutoff threshold of 7% to determine the methylation status of the MGMT promoter. This threshold was essential to define patients as “unmethylated” or “partially methylated” in the analyzed trials. Unfortunately, as you know, the STUPP protocol requires that all patients be administered TMZ, while if the specific glioblastoma of the patient is unmethylated this should not be done because it increases toxicity without any benefit.
A real-world observation of patients with glioblastoma treated with a personalized peptide vaccine
This study looked at patients with glioblastoma treated with a personalized peptide vaccine. Out of 173 patients, the vaccine generated an immune response in 90% of the monitored cases, with a median survival of 31.9 months. Patients with multiple immune responses showed a significantly longer survival (53 months). These results suggest that personalized vaccines could be a promising option for the treatment of glioblastoma. The study reports the results of patients treated from 2015 to 2023 although it does not refer to a formalized trial (real-world observation). The study mentioned was conducted at the University of Tübingen in Germany. Weaknesses include the long time needed for the vaccine production (on average 10.3 months), significant costs for patients (treatment and travel), and variability in additional treatments applied by doctors, which could have influenced the results but I would say that the result is still very interesting.
Vorasidenib Approved by FDA for Grade 2 IDH-Mutant Glioma
The FDA has approved Vorasidenib for the treatment of grade 2 gliomas with an IDH mutation in adults and children 12 years of age and older. This targeted drug is the first of its kind to be approved for this condition and has shown significant improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) compared to placebo. Treated patients had a 61% reduction in the risk of disease progression.
Every second counts: New blood test detects deadly brain cancer in an hour
A new blood test developed by UK scientists can detect brain cancer in less than an hour. Using mass spectrometry to analyse biomarkers in the blood, the test could revolutionise the early diagnosis of brain tumours, offering a quicker and less invasive alternative to traditional techniques such as MRI. The discovery could speed up treatment and improve the outlook for patients. Now, it is true that few people undergo periodic MRI scans to detect brain tumours early, and probably few people would undergo this test, but the technique is certainly interesting.
In the next few days we will publish a systematic review of the literature on the treatment of glioblastoma. Thanks to those who have helped us and continue to help us keep the volunteer organization alive. That’s all for this issue on research news. A heartfelt good luck to all those who are fighting against glioblastoma and their loved ones!
