Cetuximab, bevacizumab, and irinotecan for patients with primary glioblastoma and progression after radiation therapy and temozolomide: a phase II trial

Journal Title: Neuro-Oncology - Year 2010, Vol 12, Issue 5

Abstract

The aim of this clinical trial was to investigate safety and efficacy when combining cetuximab with bevacizumab and irinotecan in patients with recurrent primary glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Patients were included with recurrent primary GBM and progression within 6 months of ending standard treatment (radiotherapy and temozolomide). Bevacizumab and irinotecan were administered IV every 2 weeks. The first 10 patients received bevacizumab 5 mg/kg, but this was increased to 10 mg/kg after interim safety analysis. Irinotecan dose was based on whether patients were taking enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs or not: 340 and 125 mg/m2, respectively. Cetuximab 400 mg/m2 as loading dose followed by 250 mg/m2 weekly was administered IV. Forty-three patients were enrolled in the trial, of which 32 were available for response. Radiographic responses were noted in 34%, of which 2 patients had complete responses and 9 patients had partial responses. The 6-month progression-free survival probability was 30% and median overall survival was 29 weeks (95% CI: 23–37 weeks). One patient had lacunar infarction, 1 patient had multiple pulmonary embolisms, and 3 patients had grade 3 skin toxicity, for which 1 patient needed plastic surgery. One patient was excluded due to suspicion of interstitial lung disease. Three patients had deep-vein thrombosis; all continued on study after adequate treatment. Cetuximab in combination with bevacizumab and irinotecan in recurrent GBM is well tolerated except for skin toxicity, with an encouraging response rate. However, the efficacy data do not seem to be superior compared with results with bevacizumab and irinotecan alone.

Authors and Affiliations

Benedikte Hasselbalch, Ulrik Lassen, Steinbjørn Hansen, Mats Holmberg, Morten Sørensen, Michael Kosteljanetz, Helle Broholm, Marie-Thérése Stockhausen, Hans Skovgaard Poulsen

Keywords

Related Articles

Loss of 1p, 19q, and 10q heterozygosity prospectively predicts prognosis of oligodendroglial tumors—towards individualized tumor treatment?

The purpose of this study was to determine whether chromosome 10q loss is a predictor of tumor aggressiveness and poor clinical outcome in patients with oligodendroglial tumors alone or together with loss of heterozygosi...

Chloroquine-induced autophagic vacuole accumulation and cell death in glioma cells is p53 independent

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a high-grade central nervous system malignancy and despite aggressive treatment strategies, GBM patients have a median survival time of just 1 year. Chloroquine (CQ), an antimalarial lysosomotropic...

FasL gene knock-down therapy enhances the antiglioma immune response

Malignant glioma is a lethal form of brain cancer that is very difficult to treat. The aggressive behavior of these neoplasms and their limited responsiveness to therapy has been attributed in part to the ability of thes...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP679610
  • DOI  10.1093/neuonc/nop063
  • Views 35
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

Benedikte Hasselbalch, Ulrik Lassen, Steinbjørn Hansen, Mats Holmberg, Morten Sørensen, Michael Kosteljanetz, Helle Broholm, Marie-Thérése Stockhausen, Hans Skovgaard Poulsen (2010). Cetuximab, bevacizumab, and irinotecan for patients with primary glioblastoma and progression after radiation therapy and temozolomide: a phase II trial. Neuro-Oncology, 12(5), -. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-679610