The latest news:

• Hypertension as a biomarker in patients with recurrent glioblastoma treated with antiangiogenic drugs: a single-center experience and a critical review of the literature.         This article identifies an interesting link between the development of high blood pressure as a side effect from Avastin or Nexavar and how well it works for Glioblastomas.  Those who developed severe high blood pressure did twice as good as those who did not. Interesting..  too early to depend on it yet - it needs to be confirmed in other studies, but opens the door to new research to figure out WHY this may happen.
  



• Houston’s Dr. Marnie Rose Foundation Exceeds $3 Million in Total Donations to MD Anderson’s Brain Cancer Research, Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital         This is from our friends at the Dr. Marnie Rose Foundation. They raised over $3 million to fund brain tumor research!  Excellent job!  For our members in Texas - consider participating in thier Annual Run for the Rose on Sunday, April 14, 2013
   
  



• Hypofractionated Radiotherapy and Stereotactic Boost with Concurrent and Adjuvant Temozolamide for Glioblastoma in Good Performance Status Elderly Patients - Early Results of a Phase II Trial.         This study shows that for elderly GBM patients (65-87 years old), it may be possible to cut the number of radiation treatments in half - to 15 visitis in 3 weeks from 30 visits in 6 weeks, and get about the same results.  Of course, the results either way aren't good enough and it might be best to try a clinical trial of just about anything. However, if you are going to use the standard treatment, saving 15 sessions will make a big difference in quality of life for those 3 weeks.
  



• Polifeprosan 20, 3.85% carmustine slow-release wafer (Gliadel) in malignant glioma: evidence for role in era of standard adjuvant temozolomide.         Gliadel wafer is a biodegradeable impant that can be inserted into the resection cavity after removing a brain tumor. It slowly releases chemotherapy directly to the area most likely to have a recurrence.   It was FDA approved about 10 years ago, based on trials run before Temodar was available.   This study updates the results to include people using Temodar and shows about the same results.. a small  improvement in survival time but it had a major  - about 30% -  reduced chance of dying for people who used the Gliadel vs the placebo wafer in the trial. There were minimal increases in side effects.  Worth considering if you are having a brain tumor surgery - but with one big warning - there are some clinical trials that do not allow people who have used Gliadel.  So it is very important to plan out what you want to do after the surgery. It is a very hard decision if your preferred clinical trial doesn't allow for the use of Gliadel..  you trade an approved treatment with a good chance of helping most patients a little and a few patients a lot (gliadel) for an unproven treatment in the trial that has the chance for a bigger improvement - but has not been shown to be safe or effective yet.