Treatment Information

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

University of California, San Francisco, Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA, United States.

Survival: monthsCountry:United States
Toxiciy Grade:4City/State/Province:San Francisco, CA
Treatments:Chemotherapy, Radiation, Biologic therapyHospital:University of California, San Francisco, Comprehensive Cancer Center
Drugs:Journal:Link
Date:Feb 2009

Description:

Patients:
This study involved 65 glioblastoma multiforme or gliosarcoma patients with a median age of 55 years (range of 22-77). The percentages of male and female patients were not given.

Treatment:
Patients were treated with radiotherapy. During and after this therapy, patients were also given the chemotherapy agent temozolomide and the biologic therapy erlotinib. Erlotinib is a small molecular inhibitor of a protein (epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase) involved in cell growth and survival.

Toxicities:
The maximum toxicity level reported was of grade 4, including two cases of neutropenia and one case each of thrombocytopenia and fatigue. Also, four cases each of grade 3 fatigue and rash were reported.

Results:
The reported median overall survival was 19.3 months.

Support:
This study was partially funded by Genentech, makers of erlotinib (brand name: Tarceva).

Correspondence: Dr. Michael Prados; email: [email protected]



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