mefloquine + metformin + temozolomide

The combination of mefloquine, metformin, and temozolomide is being investigated as a treatment for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a type of brain tumor. This combination has been studied in clinical trials to determine its safety, tolerability, and potential efficacy. Temozolomide is an alkylating agent that is already approved for treating glioblastoma. It works by damaging DNA in cancer cells, leading to cell death. Metformin, typically used as a first-line treatment for type-2 diabetes, has shown potential anticancer activity by inhibiting Akt activation and potentially enhancing the cytotoxicity of temozolomide against glioma stem cells. Mefloquine, an antimalarial drug, has been found to induce autophagy and apoptosis in cancer cells. A Phase 1 factorial study has demonstrated that these three drugs can be safely combined with temozolomide in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. This combination therapy is being further investigated in clinical trials to determine its efficacy in improving progression-free survival and overall survival in glioblastoma patients, representing a potential new approach for treating a disease with poor survival rates and limited second-line therapies.