Genentech Announces Final Phase III Study Results of Avastin Plus Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy in People with an Aggressive Form of Brain Cancer This trial looked at a large number of newly diagnosed GBM patients. 1/2 received the standard treatment of Surgery, Radiation and Temodar during radiation and for 6 months afterwards, or that same treatment + Avastin until recurrence. Temodar was stopped after 6 cycles in both groups.
The results weren't as good as we were hoping for but they are a small step foward. They reported no difference in median overall survival, but there was a big increase in progression free survival in the Avastin group (8.4 months vs. 4.3 months), as well as the % of patients alive at the 1 and 2 year points. "Seventy-two percent of people treated in the Avastin arm were alive at one year compared to 66 percent of people in the placebo arm (p=0.049). Thirty-four percent were alive at two years compared to 30 percent, respectively (p=0.235)."
In human terms this means that although on average both groups lived about the same length of time, the Avastin group was in better shape for most of that time. This is very important. And more of the patients in the Avastin group went on to do much better than the ones in standard of care group.
So it looks like Avastin should play a role in the treatment of GBM but the question now become what is the best way to use it? For newly diagnosed or at recurrence? (It is already approved for recurrent GBM). Or perhaps in combination with other treatments.
More research is needed. We (The Musella Foundation) has been funding exciting research looking at ways to make Avastin work better. Hopefully we can figure out why it helps some patients and not others, then make it work for all.
(Disclosure: Genetech - the makers of Avastin - is one of our sponsors)
Cyto-megalovirus might speed brain-cancer growth We had known about a link between cyto-megalovirus (CMV) and GBMs for a few years. This article gives an explanation of how the virus may activate a pathway that drives tumor growth. There is a drug available against the CMV - and it is in trials now in Europe. There is also a vaccine against this virus in trials. This opens the door not only for a treatment but the possibility of using a CMV vaccine to prevent the development of cancer (not only brain tumors)!
