gms | German Medical Science

Objective: Recent studies showed a significant improvement in progression-free and overall survival for patients with primary diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme after treatment with tumor- treating fields (TTFields) in combination with temozolomide after concomitant chemoradiotherapy. The aim of the current study is to prove the implementation of this new therapy approach in clinical practice and to analyze the experience with TTFields for the purpose of daily handling and side effects of the therapy.

Methods: Patients of two independent centers were included. According to the general recommendation the therapy was carried out continuously with a wearing time of more than 18 hours per day preferably via four transducer arrays, which were placed on the shaved scalp and which were connected with the portable alternating fields generator. Following technical introduction of the patients we asked them about their satisfaction and handling of the technique, and also side effects and limitations of the therapy were recorded. Additionally, we focused on the progression-free survival of the patients and correlated this with the compliance of the patient in wearing the system.

Results: At the time of abstract submission, TTFields treatment was prescribed to 25 patients with an observation period of 15 months. 21 patients started the treatment in the observation time. Twelve patients treated with TTFields took part in the survey. Asking these patients for supply and technical introduction all of them were very satisfied. Most of the patients described the everyday handling as easy (58.3%), the remaining patients were limited in everyday life because of the treatment. Side effects were limited to skin irritation in 50.0% of the patients, sleep disturbances and back pain in 25.0% of the patients. 62.5 percent of the patients wore the system according to the recommended wearing time. Two patients showed a progressive disease during TTFields treatment. Six of the 21 patients, who have started TTFields treatment, died in the observation period. The remaining patients showed a stable disease. Although most of the patients described limitations in everyday life 83.3% of them would undertake TTFields treatment again.

Conclusion: The survey of patients with actual ongoing TTFields treatment in two independent centers showed a largely satisfaction with the therapy. Although it is described as complicated in handling and some reported side effects like skin irritation, back pain and sleep disturbances most of the patients could integrate the therapy in their everyday life and would agree to the treatment again. In the period of investigation two patients showed a progression of disease, six of the 21 patients with started TTFields treatment died. The compliance for the treatment is good and the progression free survival tends to approach the published data.