Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Apr 2013
Review Meta AnalysisImpact of particular antiepileptic drugs on the survival of patients with glioblastoma multiforme.
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common astrocytic brain tumor and carries a dire prognosis. Despite current therapeutic options--surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy--survival varies from 11.3 to 14.6 months. A group of drugs known as histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDIs) has demonstrated a potentially beneficial role in cancer treatment, particularly in combination with other therapies. A drug that exhibits potential as an HDI is sodium valproate (VPA), which is frequently used to treat seizures in patients with cerebral neoplasms. The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of VPA as an antitumor agent in the management of patients with GBM. ⋯ Authors of this study demonstrated evidence supporting the theory that VPA may benefit patients with GBM in terms of survival.