LAUSR

Despite considerable progress in molecular characterization and evidence for certain regimens, treatment of grade III gliomas is still ambiguous and, with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, in analogy to grade IV glioma treatment. Tumor treating fields (TTFields) therapy proved to be effective as an additional anti-mitotic treatment in glioblastoma and is available in several countries. While TTFields in grade III glioma are being investigated in several clinical trials, we report an analysis of surveillance safety data in patients with grade III glioma already treated with TTFields in the EMEA region. We reviewed post-marketing surveillance data of the EMEA region. Using the MedDRA body system with system organ class and preferred terms, adverse events reported in the subgroup of patients with grade III glioma treated with TTFields were systematically analysed. Patients with diagnosis of anaplastic astrocytoma and anaplastic oligodendroglioma were included. This analysis includes 142 patients with grade III glioma treated with TTFields in the EMEA region. Median age was 47 years (range 5–78 years). 64% of the patients reported at least one adverse event. With an incidence of 35%, skin reaction was the most common reported adverse event, none of them were severe. 29 % of the patients reported general disorders, including general health deterioration (15%) and fatigue/malaise (6%). Adverse events related to the nervous system were reported in 26% of patients; seizures were noted in 9% and headache in 7% of patients. The retrospective analysis of available post-market surveillance data of EMEA patients with grade III glioma showed no occurrence of serious adverse events that were associated with TTFields. Skin reaction, as the most commonly reported adverse event, but also other reported adverse events had comparable incidences to the rates observed in the phase III trials for patients with recurrent (EF-11) and newly diagnosed GBM (EF-14). In summary, this analysis identifies no additional safety signals on the use of TTFields in the treatment of patients with grade III glioma. Future results of clinical trials in these indications will give further insight into safety and efficacy in this subgroup.