Recurrent/Persistent Glioblastoma: Complete Response and 24 Years Disease-free Survival in a 45-Year-Old Female Treated with Antineoplastons (Successful Treatment of Glioblastoma with Antineoplastons)

Rationale: Glioblastoma (GBM), which accounts for 48% of all malignant central nervous system (CNS) tumors and 57% of gliomas, has a very poor prognosis. Patients with recurrent/persistent GBM after standard therapy usually die within six months. The case of an adult female with a recurrent/ persistent GBM is presented here to detail/discuss the efficacy of ANP therapy (Antineoplaston A10 {Atengenal} and Antineoplaston AS2-1 {Astugenal}) in the treatment of this disease. Objectives: This patient was treated at the Burzynski Clinic (BC), as a Compassionate Exemption (CE) according to the Phase II Protocol, BT-20, which utilized ANP therapy in the treatment of patients with GBMs. ANP therapy was delivered via subclavian catheter and infusion pump and then by mouth. Tumor response was measured by sequential magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain utilizing gadolinium enhancement. Findings: This patient was diagnosed with GBM of the right temporoparietal region in May 1997, at age 45, and underwent two surgical resections, radiation therapy (RT), and gamma knife ablation elsewhere. At age 46 years and eight months, she presented to the BC with recurrent/ persistent disease. She complained of weakness, dizziness, short-term memory loss, and nausea. She had difficulty speaking and walked with assistance due to discoordination and left-sided weakness. Baseline brain MRI at the BC revealed a measurable enhancing nodule in the surgical bed. ANP therapy was initiated in August 1998 and the patient achieved a complete response (CR) within five months. Now, 24 years later, the patient is doing well and showing no evidence of tumor recurrence. Conclusions: The utilization of ANP therapy to obtain a cure in a patient with recurrent/persistent GBM is presented. We conclude that ANP therapy is an attractive therapeutic option for adults with a GBM who are ineligible for or refuse standard therapy or demonstrate recurrent/persistent disease after standard therapy. We present here the successful use of ANP therapy (Antineoplaston A10 {Atengenal} and Antineoplaston AS2-1 {Astugenal}) in the treatment of recurrent/persistent GBM in a 46 year and eight-month-old female, initially diagnosed at age 45 and treated with gross total resection, radiation therapy (RT), gamma knife ablation of recurrent tumor, and subsequent right lobectomy elsewhere. We also present the use of targeted therapy in the treatment of GBM, including our own preliminary results.