Valganciclovir as Add-on to Standard Therapy in Glioblastoma Patients
Giuseppe Stragliotto, Mattia Russel Pantalone, Afsar Rahbar, Jiří Bártek, Cecilia Söderberg‐Nauclér
Abstract
Abstract Purpose: Several groups have reported a prevalence of human cytomegalovirus (CMV) in glioblastoma close to 100%. Previously, we reported that treatment with the antiviral drug valganciclovir as an add-on to standard therapy significantly prolonged survival in 50 patients with glioblastoma. Here, we present an updated retrospective analysis that includes an additional 52 patients. Experimental Design: From December 2006 to November 2019, 102 patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma received valganciclovir as an add-on to standard therapy. No additional toxicity was observed. Contemporary controls were 231 patients with glioblastoma who received similar baseline therapy. Results: Patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma receiving valganciclovir had longer median overall survival (OS 24.1 vs. 13.3 months, P < 0.0001) and a 2-year survival rate (49.8% vs. 17.3%) than controls. Median time-to-tumor progression was also longer than in controls; 9.9 (0.7–67.5 months) versus 7.3 (1.2–49 months), P = 0.0003. Valganciclovir improved survival in patients with radical or partial resection and an unmethylated or methylated MGMT promoter gene. Conclusions: Valganciclovir prolonged median OS of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (with methylated or unmethylated MGMT promoter gene) and was safe to use.