Understanding and Treating Glioblastoma

For newly diagnosed patients, the standard has remained largely unchanged for the past decade and concept-driven approaches like anti-angiogenic therapies or use of molecularly targeted drugs in all-comers populations have failed. Tumor-treating fields appear as a new option. Most current immunotherapy or molecularly targeted, precision medicine trials are also focusing on this newly diagnosed patient population. At progression, no standard exists and most treatments offer little beyond supportive care. Past trials lacked target precision and all-comers approaches have produced false negative results. Molecular precision approaches at progression need workup of recent rather than archival tissue.

Drug Repositioning Meets Precision in Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma has a gigantic unmet medical need. Molecular knowledge has evolved substantially, including data on clonal selection with progression. Past trials for all-comers may have produced false negative results. Molecular precision at progression needs workup of new tissue, and revisiting drugs with a focus on brain tumor penetration may yield surprises. Clin Cancer Res; 24(2); 256-8. ©2017 AACRSee related article by Byron et al., p. 295.