Overview
Glioblastoma, GBM, is a type of cancer that affects the central nervous system. It stems from astrocytes, which are special cells that support the neurons. This cancer can arise in the brain or the spinal cord.
Most commonly, Glioblastoma, GBM, affects older individuals, with the median age being 64 years old. You may find people refer to Glioblastoma, GBM, as Glioblastoma multiforme. While this type of cancer is relatively rare, it is still quite aggressive.
In this article, we will briefly define VT1021, then switch gears to the recent study that demonstrated promising results in the management of Glioblastoma, GBM.
What is VT1021?
VT1021 is a cyclic pentapeptide that induces the expression of thrombospondin-1 (Tsp-1).
Let’s break down this sentence:
First, we have cyclic pentapeptide. This simply means that VT1021 is a small protein that consists of five peptides connected together in a circular structure.
Thrombospondin-1, on the other hand, is a potent inhibitor of tumor progression and angiogenesis. Differently put, it blocks cancerous cells from developing new blood vessels, which are crucial to nourish the rapidly growing tumor.
How does VT1021 might work on Glioblastoma?
The production of thrombospondin-1 changes the environment of the tumor from tumor-promoting and immune-suppressive to one that activates immune cells and inhibits tumor growth.
Mainly, the action of VT1021 helps with Glioblastoma, GBM, in three ways:
- Induces programmed cell death of the tumor cells
- Converts macrophages to a subtype that is active in destroying tumor cells
- Blocks angiogenesis to prevent tumor nourishment
The combination of these effects can be very powerful in controlling the growth of astrocytes and controlling the spread of Glioblastoma, GBM,.
The use of VT1021 in the management of Glioblastoma, GBM
Around 10 days ago, Vigeo Therapeutics announced that VT1021 will be part of a phase 2-3 clinical trial to further research its effects on Glioblastoma, GBM,.
The company, Vigeo Therapeutics, is a reputable research facility that pioneered several cancer therapies.
The AGILE phase 2-3 trial that VT1021 will be part of focused on the mechanism of action and safety of this drug as inclusion criteria – this information was obtained from the phase 1-2 study.
In the case of recurrent Glioblastoma, GBM,, VT1021 showed impressive single-agent activity. This included 22 participants, and the results were as follow:
- Three patients had a complete response (CR)
- One patient had a partial response (PR)
- Seven patients had stable disease (SD)
The disease control rate, which the percentage of patients whose disease had stopped growing or decreased in size of tumor, was around 50%. These initial results show great promise in the management of severe forms of Glioblastoma, GBM,.
Takeaway message
VT1021 is a targeted therapy drug that helps with several types of cancer, including advanced cases of Glioblastoma, GBM. The initial results are quite promising, and researchers are very excited about the upcoming trials that could prove life-changing for patients.
We hope that this article highlighted the potential role of VT1021 in the treatment of Glioblastoma, GBM, and the positive results of the recent clinical trials.
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