Global post-marketing safety surveillance of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) in patients with high-grade glioma in clinical practice

Wenyin Shi; Deborah T. Blumenthal; Nancy Ann Oberheim Bush; Sied Kebir; Rimas V. Lukas; Yoshihiro Muragaki; Jay Jiguang Zhu; Martin Glas

doi:10.1007/s11060-020-03540-6

Global post-marketing safety surveillance of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) in patients with high-grade glioma in clinical practice

Wenyin Shi^*, Deborah T. Blumenthal, Nancy Ann Oberheim Bush, Sied Kebir, Rimas V. Lukas, Yoshihiro Muragaki, Jay Jiguang Zhu, Martin Glas

^*Corresponding author for this work

Neurology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

50 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields; antimitotic treatment) delivers low-intensity, intermediate-frequency, alternating electric fields through skin-applied transducer arrays. TTFields (200 kHz) was FDA-approved in glioblastoma (GBM), based on the phase 3 EF-11 (recurrent GBM, rGBM) and EF-14 (newly diagnosed GBM, ndGBM) trials. The most common TTFields-related adverse event (AE) in both trials was array-associated skin irritation. We now report on TTFields-related AEs in the real-world, clinical practice setting. Methods: Unsolicited, post-marketing surveillance data from TTFields-treated patients (October 2011–February 2019) were retrospectively analyzed using MedDRA v21.1 preferred terms, stratified by region (US, EMEA [Europe, Middle East, Africa], Japan), diagnosis (ndGBM, rGBM, anaplastic astrocytoma/oligodendroglioma, other brain tumors), and age (< 18 [pediatric], 18–64 [adults], ≥ 65 [elderly]; years of age). Results: Of 11,029 patients, 53% were diagnosed with ndGBM and 39% were diagnosed with rGBM at any line of disease recurrence. Most were adults (73%), 26% were elderly, and the male-to-female ratio was ~ 2:1 (close to published ratios of typical GBM populations). The most commonly reported TTFields-related AE was array-associated skin reaction, occurring in patients with ndGBM (38%), rGBM (29%), anaplastic astrocytoma/oligodendroglioma (38%), and other brain tumors (31%); as well as 37% of pediatric, 34% of adult, and 36% of elderly patients. Most skin AEs were mild/moderate and manageable. Other TTFields-related AEs in patients with ndGBM/rGBM included under-array heat sensation (warmth; 11%, 10%, respectively) and electric sensation (tingling; 11%, 9%, respectively), and headache (7%, 6%, respectively). Conclusions: This TTFields safety surveillance analysis in > 11,000 patients revealed no new safety concerns, with a favorable safety profile comparable with published TTFields/GBM trials. The safety profile remained consistent among subgroups, suggesting feasibility in multiple populations, including elderly patients.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	489-500
Number of pages	12
Journal	Journal of Neuro-Oncology
Volume	148
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-020-03540-6
State	Published - Jul 1 2020

Funding

All authors contributed to the development of this primary manuscript, wrote, edited, and reviewed the drafts, and approved the final manuscript. Writing and editorial support was provided by Huda Ismail Abdullah, PhD, Global Publications, Novocure Inc. Also, Katie Groschwitz, PhD, of Spark Medica Inc, provided writing support and editorial assistance, which was funded by Novocure Inc. Safety support was provided by Julia Stindl, PhD and Sharon Perez, PhD of the Novocure Ltd Medical Safety department. Biostatistical support was provided by Gitit Lavy-Shahaf, PhD of the Novocure Ltd Biostatistics department.

Keywords

Glioblastoma
Real-world
Safety surveillance
Skin adverse events
TTFields
Tolerability

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Clinical Neurology
Neurology
Oncology
Cancer Research

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10.1007/s11060-020-03540-6

Cite this

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title = "Global post-marketing safety surveillance of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) in patients with high-grade glioma in clinical practice",

abstract = "Introduction: Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields; antimitotic treatment) delivers low-intensity, intermediate-frequency, alternating electric fields through skin-applied transducer arrays. TTFields (200 kHz) was FDA-approved in glioblastoma (GBM), based on the phase 3 EF-11 (recurrent GBM, rGBM) and EF-14 (newly diagnosed GBM, ndGBM) trials. The most common TTFields-related adverse event (AE) in both trials was array-associated skin irritation. We now report on TTFields-related AEs in the real-world, clinical practice setting. Methods: Unsolicited, post-marketing surveillance data from TTFields-treated patients (October 2011–February 2019) were retrospectively analyzed using MedDRA v21.1 preferred terms, stratified by region (US, EMEA [Europe, Middle East, Africa], Japan), diagnosis (ndGBM, rGBM, anaplastic astrocytoma/oligodendroglioma, other brain tumors), and age (< 18 [pediatric], 18–64 [adults], ≥ 65 [elderly]; years of age). Results: Of 11,029 patients, 53% were diagnosed with ndGBM and 39% were diagnosed with rGBM at any line of disease recurrence. Most were adults (73%), 26% were elderly, and the male-to-female ratio was ~ 2:1 (close to published ratios of typical GBM populations). The most commonly reported TTFields-related AE was array-associated skin reaction, occurring in patients with ndGBM (38%), rGBM (29%), anaplastic astrocytoma/oligodendroglioma (38%), and other brain tumors (31%); as well as 37% of pediatric, 34% of adult, and 36% of elderly patients. Most skin AEs were mild/moderate and manageable. Other TTFields-related AEs in patients with ndGBM/rGBM included under-array heat sensation (warmth; 11%, 10%, respectively) and electric sensation (tingling; 11%, 9%, respectively), and headache (7%, 6%, respectively). Conclusions: This TTFields safety surveillance analysis in > 11,000 patients revealed no new safety concerns, with a favorable safety profile comparable with published TTFields/GBM trials. The safety profile remained consistent among subgroups, suggesting feasibility in multiple populations, including elderly patients.",

keywords = "Glioblastoma, Real-world, Safety surveillance, Skin adverse events, TTFields, Tolerability",

author = "Wenyin Shi and Blumenthal, {Deborah T.} and {Oberheim Bush}, {Nancy Ann} and Sied Kebir and Lukas, {Rimas V.} and Yoshihiro Muragaki and Zhu, {Jay Jiguang} and Martin Glas",

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year = "2020",

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doi = "10.1007/s11060-020-03540-6",

language = "English (US)",

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pages = "489--500",

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T1 - Global post-marketing safety surveillance of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) in patients with high-grade glioma in clinical practice

AU - Shi, Wenyin

AU - Blumenthal, Deborah T.

AU - Oberheim Bush, Nancy Ann

AU - Kebir, Sied

AU - Lukas, Rimas V.

AU - Muragaki, Yoshihiro

AU - Zhu, Jay Jiguang

AU - Glas, Martin

PY - 2020/7/1

Y1 - 2020/7/1

N2 - Introduction: Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields; antimitotic treatment) delivers low-intensity, intermediate-frequency, alternating electric fields through skin-applied transducer arrays. TTFields (200 kHz) was FDA-approved in glioblastoma (GBM), based on the phase 3 EF-11 (recurrent GBM, rGBM) and EF-14 (newly diagnosed GBM, ndGBM) trials. The most common TTFields-related adverse event (AE) in both trials was array-associated skin irritation. We now report on TTFields-related AEs in the real-world, clinical practice setting. Methods: Unsolicited, post-marketing surveillance data from TTFields-treated patients (October 2011–February 2019) were retrospectively analyzed using MedDRA v21.1 preferred terms, stratified by region (US, EMEA [Europe, Middle East, Africa], Japan), diagnosis (ndGBM, rGBM, anaplastic astrocytoma/oligodendroglioma, other brain tumors), and age (< 18 [pediatric], 18–64 [adults], ≥ 65 [elderly]; years of age). Results: Of 11,029 patients, 53% were diagnosed with ndGBM and 39% were diagnosed with rGBM at any line of disease recurrence. Most were adults (73%), 26% were elderly, and the male-to-female ratio was ~ 2:1 (close to published ratios of typical GBM populations). The most commonly reported TTFields-related AE was array-associated skin reaction, occurring in patients with ndGBM (38%), rGBM (29%), anaplastic astrocytoma/oligodendroglioma (38%), and other brain tumors (31%); as well as 37% of pediatric, 34% of adult, and 36% of elderly patients. Most skin AEs were mild/moderate and manageable. Other TTFields-related AEs in patients with ndGBM/rGBM included under-array heat sensation (warmth; 11%, 10%, respectively) and electric sensation (tingling; 11%, 9%, respectively), and headache (7%, 6%, respectively). Conclusions: This TTFields safety surveillance analysis in > 11,000 patients revealed no new safety concerns, with a favorable safety profile comparable with published TTFields/GBM trials. The safety profile remained consistent among subgroups, suggesting feasibility in multiple populations, including elderly patients.

AB - Introduction: Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields; antimitotic treatment) delivers low-intensity, intermediate-frequency, alternating electric fields through skin-applied transducer arrays. TTFields (200 kHz) was FDA-approved in glioblastoma (GBM), based on the phase 3 EF-11 (recurrent GBM, rGBM) and EF-14 (newly diagnosed GBM, ndGBM) trials. The most common TTFields-related adverse event (AE) in both trials was array-associated skin irritation. We now report on TTFields-related AEs in the real-world, clinical practice setting. Methods: Unsolicited, post-marketing surveillance data from TTFields-treated patients (October 2011–February 2019) were retrospectively analyzed using MedDRA v21.1 preferred terms, stratified by region (US, EMEA [Europe, Middle East, Africa], Japan), diagnosis (ndGBM, rGBM, anaplastic astrocytoma/oligodendroglioma, other brain tumors), and age (< 18 [pediatric], 18–64 [adults], ≥ 65 [elderly]; years of age). Results: Of 11,029 patients, 53% were diagnosed with ndGBM and 39% were diagnosed with rGBM at any line of disease recurrence. Most were adults (73%), 26% were elderly, and the male-to-female ratio was ~ 2:1 (close to published ratios of typical GBM populations). The most commonly reported TTFields-related AE was array-associated skin reaction, occurring in patients with ndGBM (38%), rGBM (29%), anaplastic astrocytoma/oligodendroglioma (38%), and other brain tumors (31%); as well as 37% of pediatric, 34% of adult, and 36% of elderly patients. Most skin AEs were mild/moderate and manageable. Other TTFields-related AEs in patients with ndGBM/rGBM included under-array heat sensation (warmth; 11%, 10%, respectively) and electric sensation (tingling; 11%, 9%, respectively), and headache (7%, 6%, respectively). Conclusions: This TTFields safety surveillance analysis in > 11,000 patients revealed no new safety concerns, with a favorable safety profile comparable with published TTFields/GBM trials. The safety profile remained consistent among subgroups, suggesting feasibility in multiple populations, including elderly patients.

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Global post-marketing safety surveillance of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) in patients with high-grade glioma in clinical practice

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