A modified poliovirus therapy that is showing promising results for patients with glioblastoma brain tumors works best at a low dosage, according to the research team at Duke's Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center where the investigational therapy is being pioneered.
The dosage findings for the first 20 patients in the phase 1 trial will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago at the end of the month (abstract #2068).
"The purpose of a phase 1 trial is to identify the optimal dose to minimize toxicity," says Annick Desjardins, MD, lead author of the presentation and director of clinical research at the brain tumor center in the Duke Cancer Institute. "Our trial design included escalating to higher doses, which is what is done with chemotherapy.
"For chemotherapy, we are trained to give the largest dose possible with acceptable toxicity, because that is how the drugs work to attack tumors," Desjardins says. "But that does not appear to be necessary with our therapy, and in fact a lower dose attacks the tumor as well and results in fewer side effects."
At the higher doses, Desjardins and colleagues report, inflammation at the tumor site increased the severity of side effects, including weakness and seizures. Patients required prolonged steroid use to reduce the inflammation, but this also dampened the immune response that the modified poliovirus is designed to initiate.
The research team has settled on a dose that is actually lower than the amount first tested, which the first study patient received in May 2012. That patient is still alive and has no regrowth of her tumor. Five patients have been enrolled in the trial at the lower dosage level, designated as minus one.
"We are now keeping to minus one," Desjardins says. "Inflammation is much better at this level, and that's what we want."
Study authors report that the therapy appears to be safe, with side effects related to localized brain inflammation, including muscle weakness and paralysis, seizures, headaches, limb swelling and tingling, speech impairments, and headaches. Twelve of the first 20 patients treated remain alive, with the first and second patients more than 31 months post-treatment.
The median survival for glioblastoma patients is 14.6 months, according to the American Brain Tumor Association.
Source: Duke University Medical Center
A Helping Hand: Innovative Approaches to Expanding Hand Hygiene Programs in Acute Care Settings
July 9th 2025Who knew candy, UV lights, and a college kid in scrubs could double hand hygiene adherence? A Pennsylvania hospital’s creative shake-up of its infection prevention program shows that sometimes it takes more than soap to get hands clean—and keep them that way.
Broadening the Path: Diverse Educational Routes Into Infection Prevention Careers
July 4th 2025Once dominated by nurses, infection prevention now welcomes professionals from public health, lab science, and respiratory therapy—each bringing unique expertise that strengthens patient safety and IPC programs.
How Contaminated Is Your Stretcher? The Hidden Risks on Hospital Wheels
July 3rd 2025Despite routine disinfection, hospital surfaces, such as stretchers, remain reservoirs for harmful microbes, according to several recent studies. From high-touch areas to damaged mattresses and the effectiveness of antimicrobial coatings, researchers continue to uncover persistent risks in environmental hygiene, highlighting the critical need for innovative, continuous disinfection strategies in health care settings.