Treatment Information

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Brain – Glioblastoma Multiforme treatment details. Biologic therapy.

Erasmus University Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Survival: monthsCountry:Netherlands
Toxiciy Grade:4City/State/Province:Rotterdam
Treatments:Biologic therapyHospital:Erasmus University Hospital
Drugs:Journal:Link
Date:Oct 2008

Description:

Patients: This phase 2 study involved 112 patients with recurrent gliomas. Fifty-one patients had glioblastoma, 25 had anaplastic astrocytomas, and 36 had anaplastic oligodendroglioma/mixed oligoastrocytoma. They ranged in age from 19 to 72 years.

Treatment: Patients were treated with one of two doses of the biological therapy imatinib.

Toxicity: In patients treated with the higher dose of imatinib, 5 experienced grade 3 or 4 febrile neutropenia. Other grade 3 or 4 toxicities included neutropenia without fever, anemia, fatigue, vomiting, and edema. Toxicities of grade 3 and 4 severity were reported in 11% or less of patients. Grade 1 to 2 edema was reported in almost half of patients, regardless of treatment group.

Results: The median overall survival (irrespective of drug dose) was 5.9 months for patients with glioblastoma, 5.3 for those with anaplastic oligodendroglioma/mixed oligoastrocytoma; and 5.0 months for those with anaplastic astocytoma. Patients treated with the higher dose of drug did not have a longer survival time.

Support: This study was supported by research funds from Novartis, which developed and markets imatinib as Gleevec.

Correspondence: Dr. Martin J. van den Bent



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