Center for Neuro-Oncology, Dana Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Malignant gliomas are frequently characterized by amplification of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and loss of PTEN tumor suppressor gene. Twenty-eight heavily pretreated patients with recurrent malignant gliomas were administered EGFR inhibitors (gefitinib or erlotinib) in combination with the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) inhibitor sirolimus. The regimens were reasonably well tolerated. Nineteen percent of patients experienced a partial response and 50% had stable disease. Six-month progression-free survival for glioblastoma patients was 25%.
