Patients in Scotland test new brain cancer drug

Brain cancer patients in Scotland are testing a new treatment for the deadly disease.

Cancer Research UK has started a trial of a new combination of drugs for patients with brain cancer in the hopes of improving survival.

The early-stage trial will take place at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre in Glasgow, as well as the Christie Hospital in Manchester, and the Royal Marsden Hospital and the Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton.

In the study, patients with glioblastoma – the most common and the most aggressive form of brain cancer – that has returned and requires surgery will receive the new drug olaparib alongside standard chemotherapy treatment.

Olaparib is one of a new class of drugs known as PARP inhibitors and is being developed by drug company AstraZeneca.

The researchers hope to show that olaparib will make temozolomide more effective against brain tumour cells.

Experiments in the lab have been promising, but this will be the first time that the combination of olaparib and temozolomide has been tested in patients.

Lead clinican Professor Anthony Chalmers, of the University of Glasgow, said: “It’s very exciting to launch a trial of a new approach. Once the disease has returned, patients have limited options so there is an urgent need for new treatments.

“Most of the patients in the trial will have had previous treatment with radiotherapy and temozolomide, and the likelihood of temozolomide being effective again is quite low. By adding olaparib we hope to increase the effectiveness of the temozolomide.”

Dr Nigel Blackburn, director of drug development at Cancer Research UK’s Drug Development Office, said: “We hope that this new treatment approach will help extend the lives of brain cancer patients.”