Increasing Chemotherapy Efficacy with Electric Fields
Author Information
Author(s): Eilon D. Kirson, Rosa S. Schneiderman, Vladimír Dbalý, František Tovaryš, Josef Vymazal, Aviran Itzhaki, Daniel Mordechovich, Zoya Gurvich, Esther Shmueli, Dorit Goldsher, Yoram Wasserman, Yoram Palti
Primary Institution: NovoCure Ltd.
Hypothesis
Can combining Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) with chemotherapy enhance treatment efficacy without increasing toxicity?
Conclusion
Combining chemotherapeutic cancer treatment with TTFields may increase efficacy and sensitivity without increasing treatment-related toxicity.
Supporting Evidence
- TTFields increased sensitivity to chemotherapy by 1–3 orders of magnitude.
- Patients treated with TTFields and Temozolomide had a median progression-free survival of 155 weeks.
- Overall survival for patients receiving combined treatment was over 39 months.
Takeaway
Using special electric fields along with cancer drugs can make the drugs work better without making people feel worse.
Methodology
The study involved in-vitro experiments on cancer cell lines, in-vivo experiments on animal models, and a pilot clinical trial with GBM patients.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the involvement of employees from the company developing TTFields.
Limitations
The study was limited to a small sample size and specific cancer types.
Participant Demographics
20 patients with histologically proven glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), including recurrent and newly diagnosed cases.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Confidence Interval
95%CI 1.9–5.9
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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