Valproic acid

Property	Information
Drug Name	Valproic Acid/Sodium Valproate (Depakote)
FDA Approval	Yes (for epilepsy)
Used for	Investigational use in glioblastoma for its HDAC inhibition properties
Clinical Trial Phase	Retrospective studies and a prospective phase II trial
Clinical Trial Explanation	Not specified
Common Side Effects	Liver enzyme non-induction, potential increase in chemotherapy concentration, somnolence, constipation, potential liver toxicity
OS without	Median survival with enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants: 11 months
OS with	Valproic acid users: retrospective study shows median survival of 16.9 months, prospective study shows 29.6 months
PFS without	Not specified
PFS with	Prospective study shows median PFS of 10.5 months
Usefulness Rating	3
Usefulness Explanation	Not specified
Toxicity Level	3
Toxicity Explanation	Valproic Acid/Sodium Valproate (Depakote) is a drug that has been used for epilepsy and is being investigated for the treatment of glioblastoma. It has risks associated with use, including potential liver toxicity, changes in levels of liver enzymes, increased concentration of chemotherapy in the body, plus side effects like sleepiness and constipation. These side effects and risks, while significant, are not the most severe among cancer treatments, thus rating it a 3 out of 5 for toxicity level.

Notes: Valproic acid, an anti-epileptic drug and HDAC inhibitor, has shown potential to improve clinical outcomes in glioblastoma patients. While initial retrospective analyses suggest benefits, particularly in extending median survival and PFS, the results are contested. The debate continues, emphasizing the need for rigorously designed clinical trials to conclusively determine Valproic acid's efficacy in glioblastoma treatment.

From Ben Williams Book: Not specified

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