TTFields therapy vs. chemotherapy in patients with recurrent glioblastoma

Results of the first randomized controlled trial to compare a novel cancer treatment modality delivering Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy versus chemotherapy in patients with recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) were published in the European Journal of Cancer (Stupp R. et al., NovoTTF-100A versus physician's choice chemotherapy in recurrent glioblastoma: A randomized phase III trial of a novel treatment modality, Eur J Cancer(2012), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2012.04.011).  The study showed that NovoTTF™ therapy was comparable to active chemotherapy in extending overall survival, with minimal side effects and far better quality of life. 

Novocure™, a commercial stage private oncology company, manufactures the device, NovoTTF™-100A, a wearable device that delivers TTFields, or alternating electrical fields, specifically tuned to disrupt the uncontrolled division of cancer cells, resulting in cell death.

This is the first publication in a peer reviewed journal of the Phase 3 trial of chemotherapy-free treatment with NovoTTF monotherapy (20-24h/day) versus active chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with recurrent GBM. The primary endpoint of the trial was overall survival.  The secondary endpoints were progression-free survival at six months, 1-year survival rate, and quality of life.

Patients enrolled in the Phase 3 trial had a median age of 54 years (range 23-80) with a Karnofsky performance status of 80% (range 50-100). Patients were randomized to NovoTTF alone.

The most common NovoTTF-related adverse events were principally mild (14%) to moderate (2%) skin rash beneath the device's transducer arrays.  Severe adverse events occurred in 6% of patients treated with NovoTTF vs 16% for those treated with chemotherapy.

"The patients treated within this trial had very, very advanced disease. Most of our patients rapidly become independent in handling the device and loved having a treatment without the need for chemotherapy," said Dr. Roger Stupp of the University of Lausanne, lead author of the study.  "We are encouraged by our findings and the future groundbreaking potential of NovoTTF therapy in this tough-to-treat disease and other cancer."

The study's co-principal investigator Dr. Philip Gutin, Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery and Co-Executive Director of the Brain Tumor Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York said, "Patients who have GBM face significant challenges, and we as physicians currently have limited treatment options.  This study shows that a new, safe and effective treatment option is now available."

"The results of this important trial clearly show that a fourth treatment modality now exists for patients with recurrent GBM," said Asaf Danziger, Novocure's Chief Executive Officer. "We are working closely with many of the leading cancer centers in the world to make NovoTTF therapy available to their patients, and will continue to develop this new cancer fighting weapon to improve the lives of people suffering from this disease."

SOURCE Novocure