interferon-β + temozolomide

Interferon-β + temozolomide is a combination therapy used primarily in the treatment of high-grade gliomas, including glioblastoma multiforme. Interferon-β is a type I interferon with immunomodulatory, antiangiogenic, and direct antitumor effects. It acts by binding to type I interferon receptors (IFNAR1 and IFNAR2), activating the JAK/STAT pathway and inducing expression of multiple immunomodulatory proteins[6][10]. Notably, interferon-β downregulates O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) via p53 induction, sensitizing tumor cells to alkylating agents like temozolomide[7][9][10]. Temozolomide is an oral alkylating agent that induces DNA damage by methylation at the O6 position of guanine residues in DNA, leading to tumor cell death[8]. The combination has shown synergistic antitumor effects in preclinical models and clinical trials for malignant gliomas—improving progression-free survival and overall survival compared to monotherapy in some studies[1][4][5][7][9]. This regimen is generally administered alongside radiotherapy as part of multimodal treatment for newly diagnosed or recurrent high-grade gliomas.

Other names

interferon-beta + temozolomideIFN-β + TMZ