Treatment Information

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Brain – Glioblastoma Multiforme treatment details. Chemotherapy, Biologic therapy.

Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.

Survival: monthsCountry:United States
Toxiciy Grade:3City/State/Province:Durham, NC
Treatments:Chemotherapy, Biologic therapyHospital:Duke University Medical Center
Drugs:Journal:Link
Date:Sep 2010

Description:

Patients:
This study involved a total of 23 glioblastoma multiforme patients who had progressed following previous treatment with bevacizumab. Patients were separated into 2 separate treatment groups. Group A consisted of 10 patients with a median age of 50.8 years and 70% male. Group B was made up of 13 patients with a median age of 52.4 years and 85% male.

Treatment:
Patients in group A were treated with the chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide and the biologic therapy agent bevacizumab, which is a monoclonal antibody that blocks cancer cell growth by targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein.

Patients in group B were treated with the chemotherapeutic agent etoposide and the biologic therapy agent bevacizumab.

Toxicities:
The highest toxicity in group A was of grade 3, which was 1 case of grade 3 infection. In group B, there was 1 grade 4 toxicity reported, which was a case of neutropenia. Patients in this group also reported grade 2 and 3 fatigue (4 patients).

Results:
Median overall survival in group A was 12.6 weeks (2.9 months). For group B, the median overall survival was 19.0 weeks (4.4 months).

Support:
This study was partially supported by Genentech Pharmaceuticals, makers of Avastin (trade name for bevacizumab).

Correspondence: Dr. David A. Reardon; email: [email protected]



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