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Updated: Aug 18, 2026
Tumor Treating Field Therapy in Combination with Bevacizumab for the Treatment of Recurrent Glioblastoma
Published on: October 27, 2014
[New therapeutic approaches in glioblastomas]
1Service de Neurologie, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
Introduction:
Current treatment of glioblastomas relies on surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, the efficacy of these therapeutics is still limited and new therapeutic approaches based on the understanding of brain tumor biology are emerging.
State Of Art:
High expression of the EGF receptor by tumor cells, activation of the PI3K/Akt and the Ras/Raf pathways represent interesting targets for new selective drugs under development. Proteases inhibitors and antiangiogenic agents are also under investigations in clinical trials. Perspectives. In addition, the recent development of convection-enhanced delivery technique allows the administration of drugs which do not cross the blood-brain-barrier, such as selective toxins or immunostimulating oligonucleotides.
Conclusion:
Though the results of clinical trials have been somewhat disappointing, using different drug combinations or drug-radiotherapy associations will probably enable an improvement in the prognosis for these patients in the future.
Insights
New glioblastoma treatments targeting EGF receptor and related pathways show promise. Combining therapies may improve patient outcomes despite current clinical trial limitations.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Current glioblastoma treatments (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy) have limited efficacy.
- Emerging therapies leverage brain tumor biology, targeting key pathways like EGF receptor, PI3K/Akt, and Ras/Raf.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore novel therapeutic strategies for glioblastoma.
- To identify new drug targets and delivery methods for brain tumors.
Main Methods:
- Investigation of targeted therapies including protease inhibitors and antiangiogenic agents.
- Exploration of convection-enhanced delivery for drugs that do not cross the blood-brain barrier.
Main Results:
- Selective drugs targeting EGF receptor, PI3K/Akt, and Ras/Raf pathways are under development.
- Clinical trials are evaluating protease inhibitors and antiangiogenic agents.
Conclusions:
- Despite disappointing clinical trial results, future glioblastoma treatment may improve with drug combinations.
- Drug-radiotherapy associations hold potential for enhancing patient prognosis.
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