Background
Brain tumors (abnormal growth of cancer cells within the brain) comprise 1.44% of all the new cancer cases. In 2010, 22,020 patients are estimated to be diagnosed with cancer of the brain and central nervous system (CNS), and 13,140 patients are estimated to die of the disease.
Primary brain tumors are classified as either gliomas or non-gliomas. Gliomas (tumors of glial cell origin) are the most common tumors of the central nervous system. They account for 32% of all tumors and 80% of malignant tumors, as reported in the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS), 2010.
There is a significant unmet medical need for new and effective drugs for the treatment of both adult and pediatric gliomas.The one through ten year relative survival rates by histology for 50,240 patients as adapted from CBTRUS 2010 are shown below. The estimated fiveand tenyear survival rates collectively for malignant brain tumors are 35% and 32%, respectively.
Resources
Phase II Trial
National Brain Tumor Society
The Brain Tumor Foundation
Role of PDGFR
In primary glioblastomas, PDGFRA gene amplification is observed in approximately 13 29% patients1. Furthermore, high level expression of PDGFR? is a characteristic signature in the pronural subtype of glioblastoma1. A recent study showed high frequency of PDGFRA gene amplification and also overexpression of PDGFA and PDGFR?1.
AROG Pharmaceuticals is initiating a Phase II trial in February 2011 to test the efficacy of crenolanib in patients with adult glioma.
