BTTC Research
About 15,000-17,000 new cases of
malignant
gliomas occur annually in
the U.S. The median survival for all glioma patients remains less than
one year. The purpose of the BTTC research, which began in 2007, was
to investigate alternative approaches for malignant glioma treatment
and as a result, improve a glioma patient's prognosis.
The current BTTC research examines two areas:
1) Using a multi-targeted therapy approach with new
glioblastoma
patients
instead of a single agent, since single agent use has demonstrated limited
impact. The approach here includes the combination of
radiation therapy
with temozolomide followed by a combination of bevacizumab and erlotinib.
- Temozolomide (Temodar), the current standard treatment
for
brain tumor, works by helping to kill
cancer
cells
- Bevacizumab (Avastin), a DNA-derived single-cell
antibody, inhibits activity of vascular endothelial (blood vessels
inside a body cavity) growth factor and
metastatic
progression. Vascular
endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a major protein involved in
regulating the differentiation and proliferation of vascular endothelial
cells thus promoting the growth of new blood vessels. However, under
certain circumstances, higher than normal levels of VEGF might play
a role in cancerous processes or growth of tumors
- Erlotinib (Tarceva) is an antineoplastic,
which inhibits the growth and spread of cancerous cells
2) Using temozolomide alone or in combination with thalidomide, isotretinion
and/or celecoxib as post-radiation treatment of
glioblastoma multiforme
patients.
- Thalidomide (Thalomid™) may slow or stop the blood
vessel growth in
tumors
- Isotretinion (Accutane), related the vitamin A,
may slow or stop cancer cell growth
- Celecoxib (Celebrex) helps in preventing
development of some types of cancer