View source for TTF

{{TreatmentInfo
|drug_name=Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields)
|FDA_approval=Yes
|used_for=Newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma; malignant pleural mesothelioma
|clinical_trial_phase=Approved; ongoing Phase III trials for other tumor types
|clinical_trial_explanation=TTFields have undergone extensive clinical evaluation, including the EF-14 Phase III trial, which demonstrated a significant survival benefit in newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients when combined with temozolomide. Ongoing Phase III trials are investigating its efficacy in other cancers such as non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
|common_side_effects=Skin irritation at the application site, mild to moderate headache, fatigue
|OS_with=Median overall survival of 20.9 months for newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients when combined with temozolomide, compared to 16.0 months with temozolomide alone
|PFS_with=Median progression-free survival of 6.7 months with TTFields plus temozolomide, versus 4.0 months with temozolomide alone
|usefulness_rating=4.5
|usefulness_explanation=TTFields offer a novel, non-invasive treatment modality that has been clinically proven to extend both progression-free and overall survival in glioblastoma patients, with minimal systemic side effects. Its integration into standard care practices provides an additional therapeutic option for patients with limited alternatives.
|toxicity_level=2
|toxicity_explanation=The primary side effect is localized skin irritation beneath the transducer arrays, which is generally manageable with topical treatments and proper skin care. Unlike traditional chemotherapies, TTFields do not cause systemic toxicities such as immunosuppression or organ dysfunction.
|notes=TTFields are delivered via a portable device (Optune) that patients can carry, allowing for continuous treatment while maintaining daily activities. Treatment adherence, defined as wearing the device for at least 18 hours per day, correlates positively with improved outcomes. Ongoing research aims to expand TTFields' application to other malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer.
|treatment_category=Standard of Care (SOC) Chemotherapy
|links=* [Novocure - Optune Device](https://www.optune.com/)
* [EF-14 Phase III Clinical Trial Results](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26369883/)
* [FDA Approval Announcement for TTFields](https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-expanded-indication-medical-device-treat-form-brain-cancer)
|overview=Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) are a groundbreaking, non-invasive cancer therapy that utilizes low-intensity, alternating electric fields to disrupt cancer cell division. Clinically approved for the treatment of newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma, TTFields have demonstrated a significant extension in both progression-free and overall survival when combined with standard chemotherapy. The therapy is well-tolerated, with the most common side effect being manageable skin irritation at the application site. Ongoing studies are exploring the efficacy of TTFields in treating other aggressive tumor types.
|book_text:In the spring of 2011, the FDA approved the fourth treatment ever for glioblastoma. Unlike the previous three (gliadel, temozolomide, and Avastin), the new treatment involves no drugs or surgery, but instead uses a “helmet” of electrodes that generates a low level of alternating electrical current. A biotech company called Novocure has developed the device, called Optune, based on experimental findings that electro- magnetic fields disrupt tumor growth by interfering with the mitosis stage of cell division, causing the cancer cells to die instead of proliferating (138). Healthy brain cells rarely divide and thus are unaffected. The treatment involves wearing a collection of electrodes for 18 or more hours per day, which allows the patient to live otherwise normally. This approval in 2011 was the outcome of a randomized phase 3 trial for recurrent glioblastoma, in which Novo-TTF (now called Optune) treatment was equally effective as physician’s choice chemotherapy, but with reduced toxicity and better quality of life (139, 140).
}}