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Researchers are continuing to explore newer and, hopefully, more effective treatments for glioblastoma multiforme in an attempt to improve quality of life and prolong survival. Some of the novel therapies being investigated include:

• Immunotherapy - Researchers are exploring ways to use the body's natural immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. Examples include:

  • Active immunotherapy with tumor vaccines to boost the body's immune system to kill the tumor
  • Passive immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies that are "tagged" with a radioactive compound and that bind specifically to cancer cells and destroy them

• Biological Therapy - Researchers are exploring the use of targeted drugs called biological agents to help the body's natural immune system to destroy cancer cells. Examples include:

  • Phenylacetate
  • Lovastatin
  • Protease inhibitors

• Gene Therapy - Genetic engineering (gene therapy) is being explored as a potentially more effective treatment for glioblastoma multiforme. Examples include:

  • using genetically engineered mutants of herpes simplex virus to infect glioblastoma cells and prevent them from growing and spreading
  • using genetically engineered enzymes to make glioblastoma cells more susceptible to chemotherapeutic agents
  • introducing special genes called tumor suppressor genes into the tumor to arrest the growth of the cancer cells

• Targeted Chemotherapy - Researchers are evaluating the use of targeted chemotherapy for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme. These novel chemotherapeutic agents preferentially target and inhibit specific metabolic pathways that cancer cells use to grow and spread. Examples of targeted chemotherapy strategies that are being investigated include:

  • Matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors
  • Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors
  • Angiogenesis inhibitors
  • Apoptosis-inducing agents

• Matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors - This class of chemotherapeutic drugs inhibits the action of enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases that are thought to play an important role in the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. An example of a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor that is currently being investigated for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme is marimastat (MRM).

• Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors - This class of chemotherapeutic drugs inhibits the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF receptor) on tumor cells that helps cancer cells grow and spread. Examples of EGF receptor inhibitors include:

  • cetuximab (Erbitux)
  • ZD1839 (gefitinib; Iressa)
  • OSI774 (erlotinib; Tarceva)
  • ST1571 (imatinib mesylate; Gleevec)
  • CCI-779 (temsirolimus)
  • R115777 (tipifarnib; Zarnestra)

• Angiogenesis inhibitors - This class of chemotherapeutic drugs inhibits the formation of new blood vessels by a tumor and essentially "robs" the tumor of its blood supply leading to tumor death. Examples include:

  • thalidomide
  • SU5416 (semaxanib)
  • angiostatin
  • cilengitide (EMD 121974)
  • squalamine

• Apoptosis-inducing agents - This class of chemotherapeutic drugs prevents the growth of tumor cells by inducing the cells to undergo a process called "apoptosis" (cell death). These drugs work by activating a class of enzymes called capsases that trigger the metabolic events within the cell leading to cell death. Examples include:

  • TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)
  • Smac agonists
  • Alkylphosphocholines

• Information regarding ongoing clinical studies in your area can be obtained at the Clinical Trials Listing Service at http://www.centerwatch.com