Nivolumab in addition to radiation therapy for glioblastoma – first line

Nivolumab in addition to radiation therapy is being investigated as a treatment option for patients newly diagnosed with glioblastoma. Glioblastoma is a fast‐growing type of brain
tumour that develops from glial cells in the brain. It is an aggressive brain cancer that typically results in death within months following diagnosis if not treated. Brain cancers are the ninth
most common cancers in the UK; glioblastoma is one of the most common types of brain cancer. Current therapies remain palliative and include surgery to remove as much of the
tumour as possible, followed by chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.
Nivolumab is an immunotherapy product that is currently licensed in the EU/UK for the treatment of several types of advanced cancers such as melanoma, non‐small cell lung
cancer, and kidney cancer. It is a monoclonal antibody that acts by preventing the inhibition of T‐cells (part of the body’s immune system that fight cancer) through binding to a protein
called programmed cell death 1 (PD‐1). If licensed, nivolumab in combination with radiation therapy will offer an additional first‐line treatment option for patients with glioblastoma.