What is the life expectancy of a patient with Optune?
Aug 20, 2016 · Great question on Optune! The true answer is we do not know. In trials, it generally took at least 3 months to show any progress against an established GBM. It have very limited side effects, for the vast majority of people the worst side effect is skin irritation from wearing the head stickers. It has worked for many people though.
How long Am I going to need to use Optune?
will respond to treatment. Notice! You should use Optune for at least 18 hours a day to get the best response to treatment. Using Optune for less than 18 hours a day lowers the chances that you will respond to treatment. Notice! Do not stop using Optune before you finish at least four full weeks of therapy to get the best response to treatment. Stopping
What is Optune®approved to treat?
Nov 17, 2017 · Patients who used Optune more than 90 percent of the time (n=43) had the greatest chance of survival: a median survival of 24.9 months from randomization and a five-year survival of 29.3 percent. The median time from diagnosis to randomization was 3.8 months for patients treated with Optune together with temozolomide.
How often should Optune be used with temozolomide?
People adding Optune to chemotherapy in the study were also able to maintain their quality of life (mental, emotional, and physical health) longer than those on chemotherapy* alone. Proven to maintain quality of life † As measured up to 12 months. Optune treats where your GBM tumor is located without increasing
How long can you use optune?
How long do I have to wear Optune? A large clinical study showed that Optune should be worn for at least 75% of the time (18 hours per day) to get the best response from treatment. When you begin treatment with Optune, work with your doctor to decide how long you should stay on Optune based on your needs.
Does optune extend life?
In a large clinical study, people who added Optune to chemotherapy* had a greater opportunity to live longer than those who used chemotherapy* alone. Nearly half of people using Optune + chemotherapy* were alive at 2 years compared with 31% of people on chemotherapy* alone.
When should I stop optune?
Do not stop using Optune before you finish at least four full weeks of therapy to get the best response to treatment. Stopping treatment before four weeks lowers the chances that you will respond to treatment. Notice! Do not stop using Optune even if you have used it less than the recommended 18 hours per day.
Does optune cure cancer?
Optune works by creating Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields), which are electric fields that disrupt cancer cell division. Using 4 adhesive patches called transducer arrays, TTFields therapy is delivered right into the area of your body where the cancer is located.
Does optune make you tired?
What are the possible side effects of Optune? Most common side effects of Optune when used together with chemotherapy (temozolomide, or TMZ) were low blood platelet count, nausea, constipation, vomiting, tiredness, scalp irritation from the device, headache, seizure, and depression.
What is the survival rate for Stage 4 glioblastoma?
That is the survival rate for stage 4 glioblastoma: four percent. Four out of 100. That is the survival rate for stage 4 glioblastoma: four percent.May 23, 2019
How long does optune take to work?
As TTFields are a slow antimitotic therapy, we do not expect to see a response quickly with therapy. Using a model developed to simulate the growth kinetics of a malignant tumor, the minimal treatment duration for Optune has been determined to be approximately 4 weeks to reach tumor stabilization.
Is glioblastoma always fatal?
Glioblastoma incidence is very low among all cancer types, i.e., 1 per 10 000 cases. However, with an incidence of 16% of all primary brain tumors it is the most common brain malignancy and is almost always lethal [5,6].
What does an optune cap do?
Optune is a wearable, portable, FDA-approved treatment for glioblastoma (GBM) that works by creating Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields), which are electric fields that disrupt cancer cell division.
Can you survive glioblastoma?
Glioblastoma survival The average survival time is 12-18 months - only 25% of glioblastoma patients survive more than one year, and only 5% of patients survive more than five years.
Is optune MRI compatible?
Yes. Turn the system off and remove the arrays before having X-rays, CT scans or MRIs. The device should not be exposed to high radiation, and leaving the arrays on during the procedure can interfere with the image results. After the procedure is completed, apply new transducer arrays and connect Optune™.
Does Blue Cross cover optune?
Additional commercial payers that offer positive coverage policies for Optune include: Excellus Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Medica, The Health Plan of the Upper Ohio Valley, and Priority Health, which in total administer health plans covering 3.7 million lives.Feb 12, 2016
What is Optune used for?
If you have newly diagnosed GBM, Optune is used together with a chemotherapy called temozolomide (TMZ) if your cancer is confirmed by your healthcare professional and you have had surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible. Recurrent GBM.
Can you get pregnant with Optune?
Optune was not tested in pregnant women. Do not use Optune if you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or are trying to get pregnant. Women who are able to get pregnant must use birth control when using the device. It is unknown what side effects the device may cause to a pregnant woman.
Can you use Optune alone?
If your tumor has come back, Optune can be used alone as an alternative to standard medical therapy if you have tried surgery and radiation and they did not work or are no longer working and you have tried chemotherapy and your GBM has been confirmed by your healthcare professional.
Can you use an optune battery in a car charger?
Optune is portable and battery operated, but it is not designed to be plugged into a car charger. Remember, if you plan to be out for more than 2 hours, carry an extra battery or the power supply with you, in case the current battery runs out.
Does Optune interfere with other devices?
Yes. Optune has been designed to not interfere with other electronic devices according to international standards. In testing and in real-world use, there have been no problems reported with the use of mobile devices while on treatment.
How does Optune work?
Optune produces alternating electrical fields within the human body that disrupt the rapid cell division exhibited by cancer cells, with the alternating electrical fields applied to the brain through transducer arrays placed on the scalp.
What is the study design of Optune?
Study Design: The study was a prospective, randomized, open label, active parallel control trial to compare the effectiveness and safety outcomes of recurrent GBM subjects treated with Optune to those treated with an effective best standard of care (BSC) chemotherapy (including bevacizumab).
Can children touch Optune?
Caution – Keep Optune out of the reach of children. If children touch the device, they could damage the device. This could cause a break in treatment. Breaks in treatment may lower your chance to respond to treatment.
Can you use optune with a skull defect?
Do not use Optune if you have an active implanted medical device, a skull defect (such as, missing bone with no replacement) or bullet fragments. Examples of active electronic devices include deep brain stimulators, spinal cord stimulators, vagus nerve stimulators, pacemakers, defibrillators and programmable shunts. Use of Optune together with implanted electronic devices has not been tested and may theoretically lead to malfunctioning of the implanted device. Use of Optune together with skull defects or bullet fragments has not been tested and may possibly lead to tissue damage or render Optune ineffective.
Can TMZ be replaced with a second line?
Following radiological progression or unacceptable toxicity, TMZ could be replaced with best standard of care second line therapy.
What are the adverse reactions to optune?
The most common (≥10%) adverse events seen when using Optune alone were scalp irritation from device use and headache. The following adverse reactions were considered related to Optune when using the device alone: scalp irritation from device use, headache, malaise, muscle twitching, fall and skin ulcer.
Can you use Optune for GBM?
The device is intended to be used as a monotherapy, and is intended as an alternative to standard medical therapy for GBM after surgical and radiation options have been exhausted. Patients should only use Optune under the supervision of a physician properly trained in use of the device.
Can you use Optune with a skull defect?
Contraindications: Do not use Optune if you have an active implanted medical device, a skull defect (such as, missing bone with no replacement), or bullet fragments. Use of Optune together with implanted electronic devices has not been tested and may theoretically lead to malfunctioning of the implanted device. Use of Optune together with skull defects or bullet fragments has not been tested and may possibly lead to tissue damage or render Optune ineffective.
What are the side effects of Optune?
The most common side effects when using Optune alone were scalp irritation (redness and itchiness) and . headache. Other side effects were malaise, muscle twitching, fall and skin ulcers. Talk to your doctor if you have any of these side effects or questions.
Can Optune be used with chemotherapy?
If you have newly diagnosed GBM, Optune is used together with a chemotherapy called temozolomide (TMZ) if: • Your cancer is confirmed by your healthcare professional AND. • You have had surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible. Recurrent GBM.
Is Optune for everyone?
Optune is not for everyone. Talk to your doctor if you have: • An implanted medical device (programmable shunt), skull defect (missing bone with no replacement), . or bullet fragment. Optune has not been tested in people with implanted electronic devices, which may .
Can you use Optune alone?
If your tumor has come back, Optune can be used alone as an alternative to standard medical therapy if: • You have tried surgery and radiation and they did not work or are no longer working AND. • You have tried chemotherapy and your GBM has been confirmed by your healthcare professional.
Can you use Optune without a training?
Optune should only be used after receiving training from qualified personnel, such as your doctor, a nurse, or . other medical staff who have completed a training course given by Novocure®, the maker of Optune. • Do not use any parts that did not come with the Optune Treatment Kit sent to you by Novocure or given .
How long does the Optune device work?
Ian Robins, a UW Carbone oncologist who specializes in brain cancers, says that research is showing improved survival by patients who wear the Optune device, and have it actively working, at least 18 hours a day, along with the standard treatment of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. "This is a very valuable addition to ...
How long is GBM good for?
Overall, the prognosis for GBM remains poor, with median survival of about 15 months. About 25 percent of patients are alive two years after diagnosis and 5 percent alive after five years. But among Optune device users, 13 percent were alive after five years, according to a study of 695 patients published in the Journal ...
When was the gbm device approved?
Robins and brain-tumor nurse Lori Hayes were certified to prescribe the device in January 2013, shortly after it was approved by the FDA for patients whose GBM had returned. The FDA has since broadened the approval to newly diagnosed patients.
Is TTF being tested for lung cancer?
The TTF technology is now being tested for a variety of other cancers. UW Carbone is part of a trial using the technology for lung cancer and will soon open TTF trials for pancreatic cancer and brain metastases that started as ovarian cancer.
Is Optune recommended for GBM?
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), a group of leading cancer centers including UW Carbone, says that research evidence supports using Optune and gives it its highest "category one recommendation" for newly diagnosed GBM patients.
How long does it take to cure a GBM?
Historically, the median overall survival time from initial diagnosis and with optimal treatment is 15 months. The standard treatment for GBM is surgery, followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy. In Justin’s case the tumor was inoperable, a fact that Justin accepted with equanimity.
Does Optune work on brain tumors?
While it is often difficult to get chemotherapy to work on brain tumors, Optune goes directly into the brain, shuts down and kills tumor cells, while it spares normal cells. “It is a relatively simple concept with an incredibly complex design,” Ney said. “It’s quite remarkable.”.
Is optune safe for caregivers?
There is no known risk to caregivers exposed to a patient receiving Optune. Optune has been tested for electromagnetic compatibility (active and passive) according to EN ISO 60601-1 standards. This means that no significant electric or magnetic fields are found in the vicinity of the device when it is active. 15.
Does Optune suppress the immune system?
Is Optune known to suppress the immune system? Optune is not known to be an immunosuppressant. 1. In patients with newly diagnosed GBM, the addition of Optune to TMZ did not increase the incidence of blood and lymphatic system disorders (grades 1-4) compared with TMZ alone (34% for both groups). 1. The most common (≥10%) adverse events (AEs) ...
Is Optune a passive or active device?
Optune has been tested for electromagnetic compatibility (active and passive) according to EN ISO 60601-1 standards and Novocure is not aware of any limitations with the use of cell phones or microwaves while patients are being treated with Optune.
Is Optune covered by insurance?
Optune is covered by many insurance plans and Novocure ensures that both you and your patient know in advance what, if any, financial obligation your patient has prior to the patient starting therapy. References: 1. Optune. Instructions for Use for Glioblastoma Multiforme.
How long does an optune last?
Patients who have the most success with the Optune device wear it for at least 18 hours a day . Although it might sound extreme, the results speak for themselves. “It’s hard to argue when there’s a median survival advantage of about five months ,” Dr. Khagi says.
What is an optune?
Optune is a wearable, portable device that attaches to a patient’s scalp via four adhesive transducer arrays. The arrays are about palm-sized and are placed adjacent to one another. “Then they develop this alternating electrical field between those opposing arrays,” Dr. Khagi says.
Is Optune approved for tumors?
The Optune device is approved only for tumors in the cerebrum . “Anything in the cerebellum, the back of the brain, the device is not approved for, so we can’t use it in those patients,” Dr. Khagi says.
Is Optune a treatment for glioblastoma?
For patients with glioblastomas (GBM), treatment options are limited and the tumors are often resistant. But a treatment called Optune might be changing that. “This is the first device approved to treat glioblastoma in the clinic,” says Simon Khagi, MD, director of the UNC Brain Tumor Program.
Can optune break down skin?
Khagi says this isn’t common in his experience. A patient is also unable to use Optune if he or she has skull defects.
What is the most common adverse event associated with Optune?
The most common adverse event associated with Optune® in clinical trials was skin irritation beneath the transducer arrays.1 For this reason, it is important to monitor not only the patient’s clinical status but also his or her scalp health.
Can you use Optune with a skull defect?
ContraindicationsDo not use Optune in patients with an active implanted medical device, a skull defect (such as, missing bone with no replacement), or bullet fragments. Use of Optune together with implanted electronic devices has not been tested and may theoretically lead to malfunctioning of the implanted device. Use of Optune together with skull defects or bullet fragments has not been tested and may possibly lead to tissue damage or render Optune ineffective.
