Dr. Shi on the Rationale to Evaluate a Tumor-Treating Fields Therapy–Based Combination in Glioblastoma

Wenyin Shi, MD, PhD, professor, co-director, Brain Tumor Center, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, co-director, Stereotactic Radiosurgery Program, Jefferson University Hospitals, Jefferson Health, discusses the rationale to evaluate a tumor-treating fields (TTFields) therapy in combination with temozolomide and radiation therapy in glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma remains the most threatening type of brain cancer, characterized by poor overall survival (OS), Shi explains. Moreover, advances in the treatment of patients with glioblastoma have been slow.

Findings from the phase 3 EF-14 trial (NCT00916409) supported the approval of Novo-TTF-100A (Optune), a TTField device used for the treatment of patients with histologically confirmed glioblastoma multiforme. The device has improved the median OS for this patient population by several months and is currently utilized following radiation therapy with concurrent temozolomide, Shi says.

However, preclinical data suggest that TTFields and radiation therapy yield synergistic activity in glioblastoma models. As such, an early phase 1 pilot trial (NCT03477110) was launched to evaluate the feasibility of Novo-TTF-200A with concurrent radiation therapy and temozolomide in patients with newly diagnosed grade IV glioblastoma, Shi concludes.