Use of Optune TTF With Radiation as an Alternative for Elderly Patients With Primary CNS Lymphoma

Overview

This study will compare the overall survival (OS) time of elderly patients who would not tolerate standard chemotherapy for PCNSL treated with WBXRT together with Optune-TTF to those treated with whole-brain radiotherapy alone. Standard treatment of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) for patients with good performance status involves high-dose methotrexate-based chemotherapy regimens and whole-brain radiation therapy (WBXRT). Although up to 20% of patients with PCNSL are 80 years of age or older, little data exist with regard to optimal treatment of this patient population and they often do not qualify for clinical trials. In addition, elderly patients have a poorer rate of complete and partial response and increased risk of toxicity when treated with standard chemotherapy regimens. Though a consensus does not exist, radiotherapy alone is often used in these patients to minimize toxic effects of more aggressive chemotherapies. The Optune TTF device has proven effective in treating high-grade gliomas and is currently being investigated to treat meningiomas and metastatic lesions in the brain as well as other tumor types elsewhere in the body. It is generally well tolerated with no known systemic side effects, producing only an occasional local skin reaction. The mechanism of action is independent of tumor type and therefore may be effective in treating lymphoma as well.

Conditions