NPC-sparing radiation therapy + temozolomide

NPC-sparing radiation therapy + temozolomide is a specialized therapeutic regimen developed and investigated at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins for the treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The regimen integrates the standard-of-care chemotherapy, temozolomide, with a novel radiation technique designed to protect neural progenitor cell (NPC) niches in the brain, specifically the hippocampi and subventricular zones. Temozolomide is a small molecule alkylating agent that crosses the blood-brain barrier and induces cytotoxic DNA damage by methylating guanine residues, primarily at the O6 position. The NPC-sparing radiation component utilizes advanced intensity-modulated planning to deliver a therapeutic dose of 60 Gy to the tumor while minimizing exposure to neurogenic regions. The primary objective of this combined approach is to maintain anti-tumor efficacy while reducing long-term neurocognitive toxicities, such as memory loss and executive dysfunction, which are common side effects of conventional cranial radiation.

Brand names

Temodar

Other names

chemotherapy-Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins-glioblastoma multiformeNPC-sparing RT + TMZNeural progenitor cell sparing radiation therapy plus temozolomide