Kathleen[a]
New Hope for Patients With Brain Tumors
52ND annual Meeting of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons : GLIADEL Wafer, Used at Onset of initial Brain Surgery, Reduces the Risk of Dying Over 3-4 Years
September 2002
According to the American Brain Tumor Association, an estimated thirty-six thousand, four hundred people in the United States will be diagnosed with a primary brain tumor -- both malignant and benign -- this year alone. But now there is good news for those with the most rapidly fatal of these types of tumors, as we hear from Roberta Facinelli. (:60)
Glioblastoma multiforme is not only one of the most common types of brain tumor, it´s also the most universally fatal. GBM tumors can double in size approximately every 11 days. Most patients with GBM live less than one year after diagnosis, even with aggressive treatment. But now there´s new hope. Dr. Henry Friedman is a brain tumor specialist at Duke University.
(Dr. Friedman): A new trial has just shown that GLIADEL Wafers when inserted into a patient´s tumor cavity at the time of their initial surgery, definitely increase their survival. GLIADEL Wafers, release BCNU into the tumor crater, and by so doing, treat the tumor from within without having any increase in side effects from the chemotherapy.
The results of the latest Phase III clinical trial were announced during the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons in Philadelphia. Currently GLIADEL Wafer is used only in the treatment of recurrent GBM, however, these new data suggest a role for this therapy during initial diagnosis and surgery. I´m Roberta Facinelli.
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Produced for Guilford Pharmaceuticals