Maximilien Vermandel, PhD was selected by the ASLMS Research committee to receive funding for his proposal “INDYGO-Intraoperative PDT for the treatment of Glioma." His project is the first ever non-American awarded by the committee.
The abstract to his proposal is as follows:
High-grade gliomas are the most common malignant brain tumors in adults. Their incidence has been continuously increased for several decades, especially among elderly patients. Nowadays, their incidence remains greater than 5 new cases per year per 100,000 inhabitants that potentially represents 25,000 new cases each year in the European community and 15,900 in the US.
Glioblastoma (GBM), WHO (World Health Organization) grade IV, is the most common glioma. This type of tumor is characterized by a marked proliferation, a major infiltration and a poor prognosis. Despite current treatments, including surgery, radiation oncology and chemotherapy, the overall median survival remains 15 months and progression free survival is of 7 to 8 months. Because of a systematic relapse of the tumor, the main challenge is to improve local control. In this context, photodynamic therapy (PDT) may offer a new treatment modality.
Nowadays, our research group is about to launch the world first clinical trial on intraoperative photodynamic therapy mediated by 5-ALA for glioblastoma treatment (Ethical committee approved December, 23rd, 2016): INDYGO I. This research is supported by Synaps (http://www.synaps-project.eu), a growing consortium dedicated to PDT and neurosurgery.
The main objective of the present project is to support the randomized clinical trial planned after INDYGO I. Among financial support requested and alongside the ongoing pilot clinical trial several tasks will be achieved. Thus, the ASLMS grant will be dedicated mainly to 1) optimize the lighting solution to be used during the next multi-center randomized clinical trial phase and 2) investigate potential biomarkers. The project will run for 12 months and will be the precursor of a larger study to evidence PDT efficacy for the treatment of GBM.
High-grade gliomas are the most common malignant brain tumors in adults. Their incidence has been continuously increased for several decades, especially among elderly patients. Nowadays, their incidence remains greater than 5 new cases per year per 100,000 inhabitants that potentially represents 25,000 new cases each year in the European community and 15,900 in the US.
Glioblastoma (GBM), WHO (World Health Organization) grade IV, is the most common glioma. This type of tumor is characterized by a marked proliferation, a major infiltration and a poor prognosis. Despite current treatments, including surgery, radiation oncology and chemotherapy, the overall median survival remains 15 months and progression free survival is of 7 to 8 months. Because of a systematic relapse of the tumor, the main challenge is to improve local control. In this context, photodynamic therapy (PDT) may offer a new treatment modality.
Nowadays, our research group is about to launch the world first clinical trial on intraoperative photodynamic therapy mediated by 5-ALA for glioblastoma treatment (Ethical committee approved December, 23rd, 2016): INDYGO I. This research is supported by Synaps (http://www.synaps-project.eu), a growing consortium dedicated to PDT and neurosurgery.
The main objective of the present project is to support the randomized clinical trial planned after INDYGO I. Among financial support requested and alongside the ongoing pilot clinical trial several tasks will be achieved. Thus, the ASLMS grant will be dedicated mainly to 1) optimize the lighting solution to be used during the next multi-center randomized clinical trial phase and 2) investigate potential biomarkers. The project will run for 12 months and will be the precursor of a larger study to evidence PDT efficacy for the treatment of GBM.
