Current and future directions for Phase II trials in high-grade glioma

Abstract

Despite surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, the prognosis for high-grade glioma (HGG) is poor. Our understanding of the molecular pathways involved in gliomagenesis and progression has increased in recent years, leading to the development of novel agents that specifically target these pathways. Results from most single-agent trials have been modest at best, however. Despite the initial success of antiangiogenesis agents in HGG, the clinical benefit is short-lived and most patients eventually progress. Several novel agents, multi-targeted agents and combination therapies are now in clinical trials for HGG and several more strategies are being pursued.

Keywords::

• angiogenesis
• clinical trials
• malignant glioma
• multitargeted therapy
• targeted therapy

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the Parker Adams Small III and Katherine Currier Small Fund For Brain Tumor Research. EQ Lee is on the advisory boards for Genentech and Novartis. DA Reardon is a consultant/on the advisory board (receives honoraria) for Roche/Genentech, EMD Serono, Novartis and Abgenix. P Wen receives research support from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Genentech/Roche, Geron, Medimmune, Merck, Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis and Vascular Biogenics; is on the advisory boards for Novartis, NeOnc Technologies, Vascular Biogenics; and is a speaker for Merck, Genentech/Roche and GlaxoSmithKline. BM Alexander has no conflicts to disclose. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.