Overall Survival of Glioblastoma Patients Treated With a Combination of 7 Micronutrients: A Nutraceutical Trial.

Overall survival was not statistically significantly different between glioblastoma patients receiving the nutraceutical combination versus placebo.

• Kaplan-Meier analysis showed overall survival of 14 months for the active treatment group and 13 months for the placebo group.
• The difference was not statistically significant (p=0.752).
• 53 newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients were recruited consecutively (37 males and 16 females).
• The study was conducted at King's College and St Thomas' Hospitals, London.

Two-thirds of enrolled patients received the active nutraceutical treatment containing 7 micronutrients for 1 year after neurosurgery.

• The treatment contained chokeberry extract, red grape seed extract, red clover extract, curcumin, selenium, tangeretin, and lycopene.
• Treatment was given for 1 year after neurosurgery, consistent with the start date of concomitant Stupp Protocol chemoradiation therapy.
• The placebo group received identical capsules containing lactose only.
• The study design was a randomised entry, double-blind Phase II trial.

Anecdotal reports and laboratory-based research indicated promising therapeutic potential of nutraceuticals for glioblastoma management prior to this trial.

• There is described as 'increasing evidence for recognition of nutraceuticals as anti-tumour agents in various cancers.'
• The laboratory-based research was conducted by the authors' group prior to this clinical trial.
• The study was framed as a proof-of-principle towards larger studies.

The authors identified multiple factors that future trials should consider in subgroup analyses to identify optimal responders.

• Recommended subgroup factors include patient age at diagnosis, gender, extent of surgery, MGMT mutation status, and IDH status.
• The authors acknowledged the study has limitations but described it as 'a proof of principle towards larger studies.'
• The authors stated that 'sufficiently powered trials are crucial in determining the nature and size of the treatment effect.'