Valproic acid can increase the survival time of brain tumor patients

According to foreign media reports, a new study shows that patients with brain tumors taking the seizure therapy valproic acid on the basis of standard therapy have a longer survival time than those taking other types of seizure therapy drugs. The study was published in the online edition of Neurology®, American Academy of Neurology, August 31, 2011.

Glioblastoma is the most common and most malignant brain tumor in adults. Up to half of patients with glioblastoma have seizures. It is strongly recommended that one of several antiepileptic drugs be used to treat patients with seizures. After surgery, the standard treatment for newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients is radiation therapy combined with the chemotherapy drug temozolomide.

In this study, researchers from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and the Canadian National Cancer Institute's Clinical Trials Group (NCIC) participated in a study of 573 brain tumors with and without clinical trials of motilizumab. Patients, analyze the use of epilepsy medications. At the beginning of treatment, 175 patients did not take epilepsy drugs, while 398 patients took anti-epileptic drugs, including 97 patients who took valproic acid as their only antiepileptic drug.

The study showed that patients who received both chemotherapy and radiotherapy were successfully treated, and those who received valproic acid to prevent epilepsy were further improved. The survival time was 3 months longer than those who did not receive the drug.

Patients receiving valproic acid in addition to radiotherapy and temozolomide, although having increased survival time, are more likely to have platelet and leukopenia than those in other groups, which can increase a person's risk of bleeding and infection.

Patients taking valproic acid had no survival benefit for patients who did not receive temozolomide alone in the radiotherapy group. Weller said that the use of valproic acid and other similar mechanisms should be further studied to determine whether and why valproate can help those who receive radiation therapy and temozolomide to survive longer.