Recent advancements in medical research point to a new treatment emerging for older adults recently diagnosed with glioblastoma, with the potential to enhance overall survival rates while safeguarding quality of life.
Glioblastoma, recognized as the most lethal primary brain cancer due to its aggressive behavior and resistance to conventional therapies, presents significant hurdles in oncology.
In the United States alone, nearly 14,500 individuals are diagnosed with this formidable disease annually.
Noteworthy outcomes from a phase 2 study by the Mayo Clinic have been published in The Lancet Oncology.
Treatment Innovations
Dr. Sujay Vora, a radiation oncologist at Mayo Clinic, led a crucial investigation into the efficacy of a short-course hypofractionated proton beam therapy combined with cutting-edge imaging technologies, specifically targeting patients over the age of 65 who have been diagnosed with World Health Organization (WHO) grade 4 malignant glioblastoma.
The research revealed striking results: 56% of participants lived at least one year post-treatment, boasting a median overall survival rate of 13.1 months. Dr. Vora expressed optimism about these findings, highlighting their favorable comparison to previous phase 3 studies, which suggested median survival rates of only six to nine months.
Impressively, patients with tumors characterized by favorable genetic markers enjoyed even longer median survival times, reaching up to 22 months.
Advanced Imaging and Proton Beam Therapy
Treating glioblastoma is exceptionally challenging due to its invasive tendencies, which complicate surgical options.
While standard radiation therapy has shown promise, it frequently damages healthy brain tissue due to indiscriminate radiation exposure.
In response, the Mayo Clinic study employed proton beam therapy, designed to precisely strike cancerous cells while minimizing harm to surrounding healthy areas.
Researchers utilized advanced imaging techniques, including 18F-DOPA PET scans and contrast-enhanced MRI, to pinpoint specific regions in the patients’ brains.
By integrating these sophisticated imaging methods, they successfully identified the most metabolically aggressive glioblastoma regions, enabling a more concentrated treatment approach.
Significantly, this innovative treatment was delivered over a much shorter timeframe, typically one to two weeks, compared to the standard regimen of three to six weeks.
The enhanced imaging capabilities combined with proton beam therapy facilitated targeted radiation delivery and protected healthy brain tissue.
The outcomes demonstrated that patients not only tolerated this new treatment well but also enjoyed survival rates that exceeded expectations.
Ongoing Clinical Trials
Dr. Vora noted that this study marks a pioneering clinical trial aimed at examining the advantages of integrating short-course hypofractionated proton beam therapy with advanced imaging for older patients battling glioblastoma.
The participants in the trial hailed from various locations, including Arizona and Minnesota.
Take, for instance, Richard Casper, who not only surpassed his predicted survival duration by almost two years but also reported feeling well after the treatment.
His family expressed deep gratitude for the extra time they could spend with him.
To further explore these promising findings, Mayo Clinic has initiated a large-scale randomized clinical trial.
Nadya El-Afandi, a patient diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2022, is among the participants.
Remarkably, she is now 15 months post-treatment and shows no sign of disease recurrence.
She described her current condition as “wonderful,” highlighting a significant enhancement in her quality of life.
However, Dr. William Breen, the principal investigator leading the ongoing study, cautions against making premature conclusions regarding the safety and efficacy of this new treatment until the trial reaches its conclusion and definitive results are available.
This clinical trial, officially named the SAGA study (Stereotactic Ablative Radiation Treatment for Glioblastoma), includes participants from Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota.
Funding has been generously provided by the Mayo Clinic Marley Endowment Funds and the Lawrence W. and Marilyn W. Matteson Fund for Cancer Research.
Source: ScienceDaily