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A new study published in Neuro-Oncology Advances adds to growing evidence that gabapentinoids (ie, medications such as gabapentin and pregabalin commonly used for nerve pain and seizures) may have anti-tumor effects in glioblastoma (GBM). Researchers analyzed data from 11,924 adults with newly diagnosed GBM from a nationwide Turkish registry. After adjusting for clinical factors, postoperative gabapentinoid use was associated with improved overall survival (hazard ratio 0.75). The survival association was strongest in patients age 55 and older (HR 0.70), while no significant benefit was observed in patients younger than 55. Both gabapentin and pregabalin were associated with improved survival in the older subgroup.
The findings follow a 2025 study from researchers at UCSF, Mass General Brigham, and collaborating institutions, published in Nature Communications, which reported that gabapentin use was associated with longer survival in GBM patients. Both studies are retrospective and cannot prove that gabapentin or pregabalin directly improve outcomes, but they support further investigation of gabapentinoids as potential repurposed therapies targeting the interaction between neurons and glioblastoma cells.