Glioblastoma is the most common and most deadly malignant primary brain tumor. Each year 8,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with glioblastoma, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. GBM is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths among individuals ages 15 to 34.
UA researchers will inject trillions of non-replicating virus cells containing the beta interferon gene directly into the tumors of patients, says Allan J. Hamilton, MD, FACS, head of the Department of Surgery at the UA College of Medicine. The virus will deliver the gene to the tumor cells causing the cells to produce beta interferons.
Interferons are naturally occurring proteins found in the human body that have been shown to be important anti-cancer agents because of their ability to stimulate the immune system. Beta interferons act as "anti-angiogenic" agents, meaning they interfere with the tumor's ability to recruit blood vessels, explains Dr. Hamilton. They also prohibit the cancer cells from dividing and signal the body's own immune system to attack and kill the cancer cells. Patients over the age of 18, diagnosed with a GBM that is recurrent or progressive following prior treatment are potential candidates for this trial. The tumor must also be amenable to radical resection (surgery).
Sponsored by Biogen, the Phase I clinical trial is specifically designed to evaluate the safety of this new gene therapy. Dr. Hamilton, a world-renown neurosurgeon specializing in brain and spinal cord tumors and member of the Arizona Cancer Center, will lead the UA study. For more information, patients should contact Dr. Hamilton at the UA Department of Surgery, (520) 626-4409.
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