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The Clinical Application of Tumor Treating Fields Therapy in Glioblastoma
Published on: April 16, 2019
The Effect of Integrative Naturopathic Oncology Including Modulated Electrohyperthermia on Survival Outcome among
Sara Izadi-Najafabadi1, Lisa McQuarrie1,2, Gurdev Parmar1
1Integrated Health Clinic, Surrey, BC, Canada.
Background:
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Emerging evidence suggests that integrative oncology approaches may provide survival benefits when combined with conventional treatments. This study examines whether an integrative oncology treatment plan incorporating modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) improves survival in GBM patients.
Methods:
This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from GBM patients treated at the Integrated Health Clinic (IHC) between 2010 and 2024. Survival outcomes were compared between IHC patients receiving adjuvant integrative naturopathic therapies and a matched control group from the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates, and Cox proportional hazard models were conducted to assess survival differences. Secondary analyses evaluated the impact of treatment timing (≤120 days vs >120 days post-diagnosis) and age on survival.
Results:
The integrative treatment cohort demonstrated a lower hazard of mortality than the SEER group (HR = .72, 95% CI: .53-1.00, P-value = .05). The treatment benefit was greater among IHC patients who started treatment within 120 days of diagnosis (HR = .52, 95% CI: .33-.83, P-value = .006) and those under age 50 (HR = .51, 95% CI: .31-.85, P-value = .009).
Conclusions:
The findings suggest that an integrative naturopathic approach incorporating mEHT may improve survival outcomes in GBM patients. Patients initiating integrative treatment earlier experienced a greater survival benefit, as did patients under 50 years of age. Further studies, ideally prospective randomized controlled trials, are warranted to validate these findings.
Insights
Integrative oncology, including modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT), may improve survival for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients. Early treatment initiation and younger age (<50) showed greater survival benefits in this study.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Integrative Medicine
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options.
- Integrative oncology approaches show promise for improving survival when used alongside conventional treatments.
- This study investigates the efficacy of an integrative oncology plan incorporating modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) for GBM patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if an integrative oncology treatment plan improves survival outcomes in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients.
- To compare survival rates between GBM patients receiving integrative naturopathic therapies and a matched control group.
- To evaluate the impact of treatment timing and patient age on survival benefits.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study analyzed GBM patient data from 2010-2024 at the Integrated Health Clinic (IHC).
- Survival outcomes were compared between IHC patients on integrative therapies and a matched control group from the National Cancer Institute SEER database.
- Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazard models assessed survival differences, with secondary analyses on treatment timing and age.
Main Results:
- The integrative treatment group showed a reduced hazard of mortality compared to the SEER control group (HR=0.72, P=0.05).
- Patients initiating integrative treatment within 120 days of diagnosis experienced significantly greater survival benefits (HR=0.52, P=0.006).
- Younger patients (under 50) also demonstrated a significant survival advantage with the integrative approach (HR=0.51, P=0.009).
Conclusions:
- An integrative naturopathic approach, including mEHT, appears to enhance survival outcomes for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients.
- Earlier initiation of integrative treatment and younger patient age (<50) are associated with greater survival benefits.
- Further research, including prospective randomized controlled trials, is recommended to confirm these findings.
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