Case of glioblastoma patient treated with tumor treating fields therapy at recurrence degenerating to sarcoma.

Abstract

Optune® treatment is a US FDA-approved treatment for glioblastoma (GBM) that employs alternating electric fields. Tumor treating field (TTF) therapy can exert its effects on GBM via cell cycle mitosis disruption and cytokinesis. We describe a patient with recurrent GBM who had disease progression following standard surgical treatment and concomitant chemoradiotherapy, and was found to have sarcomatous transformation after initiation of TTF therapy with bevacizumab. Upon tumor progression, repeat surgical resection revealed transformation into a GFAP-negative, reticulin-positive sarcoma with rhabdomyoid features. The possibility of a causal connection between TTF therapy and sarcomatous transformation needs to be further evaluated. No such case of apparent sarcoma formation in the CNS following chemoradiotherapy and/or TTF treatment for GBM has been reported.

• Authors: Pejman Majd, Daniel E O'Connell, Ronald C Kim, Daniela A Bota, Jose A Carrillo
• Journal: CNS oncology (CNS Oncol) Vol. 6 Issue 2 Pg. 89-94 (04 2017) ISSN: 2045-0915 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 28303729 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Brain Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging, therapy)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Electric Stimulation Therapy (methods)
• Electromagnetic Fields
• Female
• Glioblastoma (diagnostic imaging, therapy)
• Humans
• Sarcoma (diagnostic imaging, therapy)