[Education] Central Nervous System Malignancies: Top 10 Clinical Pearls

 HOPA Now is the official podcast of the Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy Association, an organization dedicated to supporting pharmacy practitioners and promoting the advancement of Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy to optimize the care of individuals impacted by cancer.

 

These educational podcasts are part of our BCOP Preparatory and Recertification Course, which is designed to prepare oncology pharmacists preparing to sit for the BCOP Certification Exam, as well as meet the BPS requirement to complete a BCOP Preparatory/Recertification Review Course.

 

In this episode of HOPA Now, Dr. Samantha Reiss details the standard care for glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain tumors. She highlights main considerations surrounding the use of temozolomide, TTFs, and bevacizumab, and touches on the more controversial topics of treating elderly patients and retreatment care options for recurrent glioblastoma. She concludes with an overview of anaplastic gliomas in patients who harbor the 1P19q codeletion and those who don’t.

 

In this episode you will learn:

 

Central Nervous System Malignancies: Top 10 Clinical Pearls

• Standard of care for glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain tumors
• Considerations when determining if temozolomide is an absolute standard of care for patients with MGMT unmethylated tumors
• Supportive care for the upfront treatment of glioblastoma and options for PJP prophylaxis
• The role of the medical device tumor treating fields (TTF) in the upfront treatment of glioblastomas
• Controversial talking points regarding the treatment of glioblastomas in elderly patients
• The role of bevacizumab as a treatment of glioblastoma and toxicities to monitor for
• Recurrent glioblastoma considerations and retreatment care options
• Goals for the treatment of low-grade gliomas and the role of chemotherapy in this setting
• Anaplastic gliomas in patients who harbor the 1P19q codeletion and those who don’t

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

HOPA

 

Quotes:

 

“This trial showed an overall improvement in survival from 12.1 months with radiation alone compared to 14.6 months with radiation plus temozolomide and the survival benefit lasted through the five-year follow-up.” — Dr. Samantha Reiss

 

“Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting from temozolomide therapy is dose-dependent and standard emetic prophylaxis should be considered for all patients.” — Dr. Samantha Reiss

 

“The addition of tumor treating fields improved progression free-survival and overall survival in this patient population.” — Dr. Samantha Reiss

 

“Timing of radiation therapy should be considered to speed the progression and possibility of late neurotoxicity that patients can experience after brain radiation.” — Dr. Samantha Reiss