Interferon-β and temozolomide combination therapy for temozolomide monotherapy-refractory malignant gliomas

Abstract

Interferon-β (IFN-β) has been found to downregulate O(6)-methyl-guanine-DNA methyltransferase and sensitize glioma cells to chemoradiation therapy. The effectiveness of IFN-β and temozolomide (TMZ) combination therapy for newly diagnosed glioblastomas was previously reported. However, there is no clinical report of recurrent of malignant gliomas treated with the combination of IFN-β and TMZ. In the present study, we reported 7 cases of gliomas classified as uncontrollable with adjuvant TMZ monotherapy, who were then treated with IFN-β and TMZ combination therapy. The magnetic resonance imaging findings and clinical symptoms improved in the majority of the cases, with tolerable adverse events and minimal residual disability. The overall survival (OS) time from the date of the initial surgery exceeded 13 months, suggesting that this combination therapy was successful in improving the prognosis of malignant gliomas refractory to adjuvant TMZ monotherapy.