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Updated: Apr 24, 2026

The Clinical Application of Tumor Treating Fields Therapy in Glioblastoma
Published on: April 16, 2019
Clinical practice experience with NovoTTF-100A™ system for glioblastoma: The Patient Registry Dataset (PRiDe)
Maciej M Mrugala1, Herbert H Engelhard2, David Dinh Tran3
1University of Washington, Seattle, WA mmrugala@uw.edu.
Abstract:
Recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive cancer with poor prognosis, and an overall survival of 6 to 7 months with optimal therapies. The NovoTTF-100A™ System is a novel antimitotic cancer therapy recently approved for the treatment of recurrent GBM, based on phase III (EF-11) trial results. The Patient Registry Dataset (PRiDe) is a post-marketing registry of all recurrent GBM patients who received NovoTTF Therapy in a real-world, clinical practice setting in the United States between 2011 and 2013. Data were collected from all adult patients with recurrent GBM who began commercial NovoTTF Therapy in the United States between October 2011 and November 2013. All patients provided written consent before treatment was started. Overall survival (OS) curves were constructed for PRiDe using the Kaplan-Meier method. Median OS in PRiDe was compared for patients stratified by average daily compliance (≥75% v<75% per day) and other prognostic variables. Adverse events were also evaluated. Data from 457 recurrent GBM patients who received NovoTTF Therapy in 91 US cancer centers were analyzed. More patients in PRiDe than the EF-11 trial received NovoTTF Therapy for first recurrence (33% v 9%) and had received prior bevacizumab therapy (55.1% v 19%). Median OS was significantly longer with NovoTTF Therapy in clinical practice (PRiDe data set) than in the EF-11 trial (9.6 v 6.6 months; HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.05 to 0.86, P = .0003). One- and 2-year OS rates were more than double for NovoTTF Therapy patients in PRiDe than in the EF-11 trial (1-year: 44% v 20%; 2-year: 30% v 9%). First and second versus third and subsequent recurrences, high Karnofsky performance status (KPS), and no prior bevacizumab use were favorable prognostic factors. No unexpected adverse events were detected in PRiDe. As in the EF-11 trial, the most frequent adverse events were mild to moderate skin reactions associated with application of the NovoTTF Therapy transducer arrays. Results from PRiDe, together with those previously reported in the EF-11 trial, indicate that NovoTTF Therapy offers clinical benefit to patients with recurrent GBM. NovoTTF Therapy has high patient tolerability and favorable safety profile in the real-world, clinical practice setting.
Insights
NovoTTF Therapy offers clinical benefit for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). This real-world study showed longer survival and a favorable safety profile compared to previous trial data.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Devices
- Cancer Therapy
Background:
- Recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) presents a significant clinical challenge with a poor prognosis.
- The NovoTTF-100A™ System is an approved antimitotic cancer therapy for recurrent GBM.
- The Patient Registry Dataset (PRiDe) was established to evaluate NovoTTF Therapy in real-world clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness and safety of NovoTTF Therapy in a real-world setting for recurrent GBM patients.
- To compare outcomes in the PRiDe registry with data from the pivotal EF-11 trial.
- To identify prognostic factors influencing overall survival in patients treated with NovoTTF Therapy.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 457 recurrent GBM patients treated with NovoTTF Therapy across 91 US cancer centers between 2011 and 2013.
- Kaplan-Meier method used to construct overall survival (OS) curves.
- Comparison of median OS and survival rates between PRiDe and EF-11 trial data, stratified by compliance and prognostic variables.
Main Results:
- Median OS in PRiDe was significantly longer than in the EF-11 trial (9.6 vs. 6.6 months; P = .0003).
- One- and 2-year OS rates were more than doubled in PRiDe compared to the EF-11 trial (1-year: 44% vs. 20%; 2-year: 30% vs. 9%).
- Favorable prognostic factors included first/second recurrence, high Karnofsky performance status, and no prior bevacizumab use. Mild to moderate skin reactions were the most common adverse events.
Conclusions:
- NovoTTF Therapy demonstrates clinical benefit in real-world treatment of recurrent GBM.
- The therapy exhibits high patient tolerability and a favorable safety profile in clinical practice.
- PRiDe data supports the efficacy of NovoTTF Therapy, showing improved survival outcomes compared to the EF-11 trial.

