Optune is a non-invasive, portable medical device designed to treat certain types of cancer. It delivers continuous, localized therapy to specific areas of the body. The device aims to disrupt cancer cell growth and division. It can be used alongside other established cancer therapies.
Mechanism of Action
Optune operates by creating alternating electric fields, known as Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields). These fields are delivered through adhesive patches, called transducer arrays, placed on the patient’s skin. The electric fields specifically target and disrupt the division of cancer cells.
TTFields interfere with the normal processes of cell division, or mitosis. They affect the organization of cellular components essential for division. This disruption prevents cancer cells from completing their division cycle, leading to their eventual death.
The alternating electric fields are tuned to frequencies that primarily affect rapidly dividing cancer cells, while having minimal impact on healthy, non-dividing cells. This selectivity helps to reduce side effects often associated with treatments that affect all rapidly dividing cells in the body.
Approved Medical Conditions
Optune is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adult patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). This is an aggressive type of brain cancer. For newly diagnosed GBM, Optune is used in combination with the chemotherapy drug temozolomide, following surgery and radiation therapy.
The device is also indicated for patients with recurrent GBM, where it can be used alone after other treatment options have been exhausted. Optune targets the supratentorial region of the brain. Its approval marks an advancement in the treatment landscape for this disease.
Patient Experience and Practical Considerations
Patients using Optune wear transducer arrays on their shaved scalp. These arrays connect to a portable field generator, which is lightweight, allowing patients to carry it in a shoulder bag or backpack. The device is designed to be worn continuously, with a recommendation for at least 18 hours of use per day to maximize its therapeutic effect.
Maintaining the shaved scalp and changing the transducer arrays regularly, usually every few days, are part of the daily routine. The most common side effect reported by patients is skin irritation or rash beneath the arrays. This can be managed with topical creams and proper skin care.
Other considerations include potential issues with implanted medical devices like pacemakers or shunts, as Optune’s electric fields could interfere with their function. Patients are instructed to keep the device and arrays dry and not to attempt repairs themselves. The continuous nature of the treatment allows individuals to integrate Optune therapy into their daily lives, including during sleep and many routine activities.
Clinical Outcomes and Research
Clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of Optune in improving outcomes for patients with glioblastoma. In newly diagnosed GBM, adding Optune to temozolomide chemotherapy has been shown to extend overall survival and progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy alone. For instance, studies reported a median progression-free survival of 7.2 months with Optune plus temozolomide, compared to 4 months with temozolomide alone.
Overall survival improved, with a median of 20.5 months for patients receiving Optune in combination with temozolomide, versus 15.6 months for those on temozolomide alone. The five-year survival rate for patients treated with Optune and temozolomide was higher than for those treated with temozolomide alone. These results indicate a positive impact on patient survival.
Ongoing research explores the potential of TTFields in treating other solid tumor cancers beyond glioblastoma. This includes investigations into various tumor types and different anatomical locations, aiming to broaden the application of this therapy. Research also seeks to further understand their mechanisms and optimize their use in oncology.