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throwawayagain31 t1_ixusu56 wrote

Reply to comment by [deleted] in Brain cancer vaccine succeeds at prolonging survival in Phase 3 trial by Sorin61

I don’t know anything about this publication, but if this data is correct, this study is pretty incredible. GBM typically has such a bad prognosis and the fact this therapy is a phase III trial with these results (Little to no SAEs associated to drug + significantly buying months of life compared to randomized control) appears to be a big deal. At this point with GBM research, the goal with any GBM drug is just to try to buy just a few months more of life for the patients. At first glance the study design is fine.

I’d also mention that most GBM trials right now at cancer centers are studying immunotherapy drugs that are much unlike this one, they attempt to prevent the growth of GBM via other mechanisms so this seems a very unique therapy. That would make it appear to fit in on this sub to me, but idk.

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sirbissel t1_ixuz8gk wrote

The study was originally published in JAMA Oncology, and looking over the Biopharma Reporter page, it seems fairly credible.

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H2AK119ub t1_ixuv0h5 wrote

IO therapies have all bombed in GBM. GBM tumors are distinct to other cancer settings where IO has succeeded - eg., heme (ie, CAR-T) & inflamed tumors (anti-PD(L)1 mAbs). This one is interesting in that it uses the heterogeneity of the tumor itself (tumor lysate) to "educate" the immune cells (DC's).

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throwawayagain31 t1_ixuwiu0 wrote

I agree. My opinion has turned to the idea that most GBM pts (and perhaps lower grade glioma) need more specificity in treatment because of the flexibility of glial material in the brain it’d be difficult to lockdown the root cause. A checkpoint inhibitor is not going to be the end-all be-all. It’s like patching one hole in an old boat at sea in the midst of a storm hoping you won’t spring another. The availability of promising GBM IO drugs is certainly depressing, but it’s definitely cool to hear about something making a difference with this level of disease for once. That being said, I haven’t read through the peer review of the study yet.

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H2AK119ub t1_ixuy1j6 wrote

I don't really understand your points. Current IO therapies don't work in GBM because it is a very heterogenous tumor type (not clonal like heme is) and there are few T cells in the brain for the MOA of checkpoint inhibitors to work. TAM reeducation is the closest a generic, non-personalized IO therapy could have for a decent shot on goal in this indication.

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throwawayagain31 t1_ixv1cz0 wrote

Great points. I make some assumptions not really based in much research about glimpses just from personal experiences. You’re right in that it is a generic approach but it is wholly personalized from the POV that it’s utilizing the specific patient’s cells.

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