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Updated: Jan 5, 2026
Tumor Treating Field Therapy in Combination with Bevacizumab for the Treatment of Recurrent Glioblastoma
Published on: October 27, 2014
How We Treat Recurrent Glioblastoma Today and Current Evidence
Caroline Chaul-Barbosa1, Daniel Fernandes Marques2
1Sirian-Libanese Hospital, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. caroline.clbarbosa@hsl.org.br.
Purpose Of Review:
Recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM) has no standard treatment. Despite a better molecular knowledge, few therapies have brought changes in clinical practice so far. Here we will review the current data evaluating the re-radiation, re-resection, bevacizumab, and cytotoxic chemotherapy agents in this setting. We will also discuss the advances of immunotherapy and the possible benefit of this treatment for patients with rGBM.
Recent Findings:
Next-generation sequencing is increasingly utilized in the clinical practice of neuro-oncologists, bringing gene mutations as targets for therapies. As in other solid tumors, immunotherapy has been also extensively studied in rGBM, with interesting results in phase I and II trials. The most promising therapies in the horizon are combinations including immune checkpoint inhibitors, virotherapy, vaccines, and monoclonal antibodies. Although re-radiation, re-resection, bevacizumab, and chemotherapy are still the most widely used therapies for treating rGBM, the clinical benefit from these treatments is still not well established. Preliminary results of studies with immune checkpoint inhibitors were disappointing, but virotherapy emerges as more promising immunotherapy in rGBM, especially in combination with other strategies. In addition to the gain in overall survival, the improvement in the quality of life of these patients is also expected.
Insights
Recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM) lacks standard treatment. While traditional therapies show limited benefit, emerging immunotherapies like virotherapy offer promising avenues for improving survival and quality of life in rGBM patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Cancer immunotherapy
- Glioblastoma research
Background:
- Recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM) presents a significant clinical challenge with no established standard treatment.
- Despite advances in molecular understanding, few therapies have translated into improved clinical outcomes for rGBM.
- Current treatment strategies for rGBM include re-radiation, re-resection, bevacizumab, and chemotherapy, with variable and often limited efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current data on established therapies for recurrent glioblastoma.
- To discuss the evolving landscape of immunotherapy for rGBM.
- To evaluate the potential benefits of novel treatment strategies for rGBM patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing clinical data and research findings on rGBM treatments.
- Analysis of outcomes from phase I and II trials of various therapeutic approaches.
- Evaluation of emerging immunotherapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, virotherapy, vaccines, and monoclonal antibodies.
Main Results:
- Established therapies like re-radiation, chemotherapy, and bevacizumab offer limited clinical benefit in rGBM.
- Immunotherapy, particularly virotherapy, shows promise for rGBM, with potential for combination strategies.
- Preliminary results for immune checkpoint inhibitors in rGBM have been disappointing.
Conclusions:
- Virotherapy represents a promising immunotherapy for recurrent glioblastoma, especially in combination regimens.
- Future treatments for rGBM may involve novel combinations of immunotherapy and other modalities.
- Improved overall survival and quality of life are anticipated outcomes for rGBM patients receiving advanced therapies.
