MGd for Oncology

Glioblastoma Multiforme

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), a cancer arising from the glial cells in the central nervous system, is one of the most common and aggressive forms of brain tumor accounting for 50% of these. The current prognosis for GBM is poor, with median patient survival at 12-18 months with treatment. Overall patient survival with malignant GBM is 40% at one year (with little improvement seen accompanying treatment) and less than 10% at five years. There are very few cases of long-term patient survival. Despite progress in imaging, detection, and combination therapies (including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy), GBM progression and recurrence are rapid.

We are currently evaluating MGd in GBM, where efficacy relies on extending survival time. In GBM, radiation increases median survival by approximately 4 to 9 months, and addition of temozolomide increases this to 14 months. MGd has completed enrollment in a RTOG sponsored Phase II multi-center study for GBM in combination with radiation therapy and temozolomide (a 113 patient study). The primary endpoint is survival and results are expected in the first half of calendar year 2011.

Previous collaborators, led by Dr. Judith Ford (Int J Rad Onc Biol Phys, 2007), showed that in a case matched analysis, 31 patients treated with MGd and radiotherapy had a median survival of 16.1 months compared to the matched RTOG (Radiation Therapy Oncology Group) database patients receiving radiotherapy that had a median survival of 11.8 months. Previous studies in malignant gliomas led by Dr. William Shapiro at the Barrow Institute have shown that the combination of MGd and temozolomide has no additional toxicities (11th Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuro-Oncology, 2006).