Latest News

• Musella Foundation Copay Program Almost Closed        

  The Musella Foundation Copayment Assistance Program is running low on funding and will close to new and renewal applications soon. Of course, we will continue to pay claims for those already approved - just will not be able to accept new applications. So if you have been thinking of applying, go to braintumorcopays.org and follow the directions to send in an application!

  
  
  
  
• Bevacizumab alternating chemotherapy for improving the survival of patients with recurrent high-grade glioma        

  This was an interesting study done in Taiwan where they used a rotating chemotherapy approach called BAC (bevacizumab alternating chemotherapy) in adults with recurrent high-grade glioma, including glioblastoma. The BAC regimen included 2 cycles of etoposide + carboplatin, followed by 1 cycle of cyclophosphamide + vinblastine, with bevacizumab every 4 weeks. In the patients with grade 4 gliomas, those treated with BAC lived a median of 29 months compared to 19 months with bevacizumab alone, and had 16 months of survival after recurrence versus 10 months. The benefit was especially strong in patients with MGMT-methylated tumors, who lived up to 33 months. While this was a relatively small trial from a single institution, BAC may be an option to consider for recurrent high grade glioma patients who aren’t eligible for clinical trials.

  
  
• Dana-Farber Research Shows Promise for Targeted Therapies for Pediatric Gliomas        

  A new study from Dana-Farber and the Broad Institute, published in Nature Communications, found that 8.9% of pediatric gliomas -- especially low-grade gliomas -- have FGFR gene alterations. An initial retrospective look shows that these tumors may respond to existing FGFR inhibitors. While more trials are needed, this discovery could lead to new precision therapy options for children with pediatric low grade gliomas.