enhancing optune therapy with targeted craniectomy

Conditions: Glioblastoma

Summary: the present study proposes a new and potentially superior clinical approach to optune™ therapy of selected glioblastoma patients. the approach is based on combining ttfields with targeted surgical skull remodeling, such as minor craniectomy or a distribution of burr holes, designed for the individual patient. pre-clinical modeling results suggest that such procedures may enhance the induced electrical field strength by up to \~100% and thereby potentially improve the clinical outcome of treated patients to a significant extent. the study is an open label phase 1 clinical pilot experiment designed to investigate feasibility, safety and efficacy of the concept. fifteen patients with first recurrence of glioblastoma will be included in the trial. all patients will receive ttfields therapy with targeted craniotomy and best physician's choice chemotherapy.


Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * pathological evidence of gbm using who classification criteria * estimated survival minimum three months * supratentorial tumor * not a candidate for further radiotherapy * first disease recurrence in accordance with rano criteria * karnofsky scale score minimum 70 * ability to comply with optune therapy * tumor characteristics which indicate significant expected benefit from feasible craniotomy or skull remodelling surgery combined with ttfields * focal tumor * most superficial border of tumor or resection cavity closer than 2 cm from brain surface * use of validated anti-conception for female participants in accordance with guidelines provided by the danish health and medicines authority * signed written consent form exclusion criteria: * pregnancy or nursing. fertile female participants will be required to take a validated pregnancy test for evaluation of pregnancy * less than four weeks since radiation therapy * infratentorial tumor * implanted pacemaker, programmable shunt, defibrillator, deep brain stimulator, other implanted devices in the brain, or documented clinically significant arrhythmias. * uncontrollable symptomatic epilepsy, refractory to standard medication. epilepsy will not necessarily contraindicate participation in the trial as this is a common complication to the disease. eligibility will be determined by the examining physician and investigators in conjunction upon careful consideration of patient safety. * contraindications for skull remodelling surgery, e.g. bleeding diathesis or severe infection. * significant co-morbidities (within four weeks prior to enrolment) * significant liver function impairment - alt \> 3 times the upper limit of normal * total bilirubin \> upper limit of normal * significant renal impairment (serum creatinine \> 1.7 mg/dl) * coagulopathy (as evidenced by pt or aptt \> 1.5 times control in normal individuals not undergoing anticoagulation) * thrombocytopenia (platelet count \< 100x10\^3/μl ) * anemia (hb \< 10 g/l) * active participation in another clinical treatment trial patients will be regarded as participants when they have signed a consent form and have been found suitable for enrolment by the examining physician, in accordance with the abovecriteria. patients may receive medication depending on their clinical condition and other diseases.

Keywords: tumour treating fields optune craniectomy ttfields