Recurrence pattern in glioblastoma multiforme patients treated with anti-angiogenic chemotherapy

PurposeGlioblastoma multiforme is the prototype of an angiogenic tumour. Under experimental conditions, anti-angiogenic therapy strategies lead to an increased invasion. Here we report on the pattern of tumour recurrence in glioblastoma patients treated with an anti-angiogenic chemotherapy.Patients and methodsA total of 32 patients with glioblastoma multiforme and a residual tumour mass after operation were treated with a continuous low-dose chemotherapy with temozolomide and a COX-II inhibitor, a presumably anti-angiogenic therapy.ResultsWhile anti-tumour activity of this therapy regimen was excellent with a mean overall time to progression of 10.4 (±0.9) months and a mean overall survival of 17.8 (±1.5) months, an unusually high rate of distant recurrences was observed (62.5%).ConclusionPatients treated with an anti-angiogenic chemotherapy experience distant recurrences at a higher rate than reported for conventional therapies. This may reflect an anti-angiogenic therapy-induced activation of glioma invasion confirming similar recently published experimental results.

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