Introduction: Tumor treating fields (TTFields) is an antimitotic therapy comprising low intensity alternating electric currents delivered non-invasively to the tumor region. The EF-14 phase 3 trial [NCT00916409] in newly diagnosed glioblastoma showed that TTFields plus temozolomide (TTFields/TMZ) improved progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) versus TMZ alone; 75% of patients achieved compliance of 75% (=18 hours/day). We analyzed how rates of compliance with TTFields/TMZ correlated with PFS and OS in the EF-14 trial.
Methods: Compliance was assessed using daily usage data from the NovoTTF-100A (Optune®) computerized log file. Compliance was calculated as %/24-hour period of TTFields delivery. Patients on TTFields/TMZ were segregated into subgroups by % daily compliance: 0 - =30%, 30% - =50%, 50% - =60%, 60% - =70%, 70% - =80%, 80% - =90%, 90% - =100%. A Cox model controlled for sex, extent of resection, MGMT methylation status, age, region, and performance status.
Results: A threshold value of 50% average daily compliance with TTFields was needed to extend PFS (HR 0.70 95%CI 0.47-1.05) and OS (HR 0.67 95%CI 0.45-0.99) versus TMZ alone. A trend in favor of longer PFS and OS was seen with higher compliance bins (>90% compliance: PFS HR 0.54 95%CI 0.37-0.79; OS HR 0.52 95%CI 0.35-0.79). At compliance >90% median survival was 24.9 months (28.7 months from diagnosis) and 5-year survival was 29.3%. Compliance was independent of gender, extent of resection, MGMT methylation status, age, region and performance status (HR 0.78; p=0.031; for OS at compliance =75% vs <75%).
Conclusions: A compliance threshold of 50% with TTFields/TMZ treatment correlated with significantly improved outcomes in OS and PFS versus TMZ alone. A trend in favor of longer PFS and OS was seen at higher compliance rates (90%). Increased compliance with TTFields therapy is prognostic for improved survival in glioblastoma.
Patient Care: This will introduce clinicians to the impact of intensity of treatment to patient survival with tumor treating fields in glioblastoma therapy.
Learning Objectives: By the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to: 1) Describe the importance of compliance in athe application of tumor treating fields, 2) Discuss, in small groups,threshold and effective compliance levels, 3) Identify an effective treatment for glioblastoma.