November 12, 2015, New York, NY—A global coalition of researchers and clinicians has announced the launch of GBM AGILE (for Adaptive, Global, Innovative Learning Environment) to find desperately needed new treatments for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the deadliest of adult brain cancers.
A novel kind of clinical trial, GBM AGILE will permit researchers to not only tailor treatments to the molecular profiles of GBM tumors but to drop failing treatment strategies in midstream and apply new ones as new information comes to light. This applies to the trial itself as well as to individual patients. GBM AGILE will involve scores of clinical and laboratory researchers in the U.S., China, Australia and Europe, and aims to begin enrolling patients by mid-2016. The overall program will be led by Anna Barker of Arizona State University, Al Yung of MD Anderson Cancer Center and Web Cavenee of Ludwig Cancer Research.
The primary aims of GBM AGILE are to test more individualized combination therapies for GBM, and to begin validating novel biomarkers to guide treatment. The latter endeavor is to be led by Ludwig San Diego’s Paul Mischel.
A press release is available on this site.