| Project title | VEliparib, Radiotherapy and Temozolomide trial in newly diagnosed Unmethylated MGMT glioblastoma (VERTU) |
|---|---|
Grant Amount | $498,775 |
Institution | The University of Sydney |
Investigator Team | Principal investigator A/Prof. Mustafa Khasraw, Prof. John Simes, Prof. Mark Rosenthal, A/Prof. Kerrie McDonald and Dr. Eng Siew Koh with associate investigators A/Prof. Hui Gab, A/Prof. Kate Drummond, Dr. Zarnie Lwin, Dr. Elizabeth Hovey, Dr. Matthew Foote, Dr. Helen Wheeler, Ms. Liz Barnes, Ms. Ann Livingstone and Ms. Robyn Leonard |
Grant Type | Clinical Trial |
Years | 2014 – 2020 |
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a brain cancer that is almost always fatal. Current treatment of GBM patients include surgical removal followed by 6 weeks of radiotherapy and chemotherapy (temozolomide) followed by another 6 months of temozolomide alone.
GBM cells contain an enzyme called MGMT that has significant influence on effectiveness of treatment and survival. MGMT may be switched ‘on’ or ‘off’. In the ‘on’ position (unmethylated), MGMT ‘protects’ the GBM cells from radiotherapy and chemotherapy. A new drug (veliparib) can make chemotherapy and radiation more effective.
This clinical trial will test the addition of veliparib to radiotherapy and to subsequent temozolomide to improve patient outcomes.
“VERTU will bring us one step closer to personalised treatments, facilitating effective management and help achieve better outcomes for GBM patients.”
A/Prof. Mustafa Khasraw
Progress
The interim analysis results for the VERTU clinical trial were released in 2018. The preliminary results from 125 patients who accessed VERTU demonstrated this treatment is safe and tolerable, and it did not negatively impact on the patient’s quality of life. There was no difference clinically or through MRI results in the six-month progression-free survival between the control and experimental groups.