Phoenix study targeting aggressive, deadly glioblastoma tumors enrolling participants

Glioblastoma is the cancer that killed Sen. John McCain. It’s aggressive and there is no cure. But, researchers at Banner MD Cancer Center in Phoenix have opened enrollment for a Phase 2 clinical trial that has shown some earlier promise.

There are roughly 12, 000 to 14,000 cases of glioblastoma every year in the U.S.

“Despite the most aggressive care we have available now, average survival remains between 14 to 16 months, according to Dr. Joseph Georges, an assistant professor of neurosurgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.

He also helped develop this first-of-its kind vaccine more than 10 years ago.

“So with this particular vaccine, we acquire a piece of the patient's tumor during surgery. We make a vaccine specific to the patient's tumor," Georges said.

That vaccine then uses the patient’s own immune system to detect and destroy the tumor.

“And glioblastoma has become very good at tricking the immune system and preventing it from directly targeting and attacking it. So immunotherapies like this vaccine help our bodies own natural immune system detect and destroy the tumor," Georges said.

Georges says Phase 1 showed the vaccine was safe and some patients have surpassed three years of survival, more than doubling typical expectations.

Georges says the Phase 2 trial is expected to take two to three years.