title: Treatment of primary glioblastoma multiforme with cetuximab, radiotherapy and temozolomide (GERT)--phase I/II trial: study protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The implementation of combined radiochemotherapy (RCHT) with temozolomide (TMZ) has lead to a significant increase in overall survival times in patients with Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), however, outcome still remains unsatisfactory. The majority of GBMs show an overexpression and/or amplification of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Therefore, addition of EGFR-inhibition with cetuximab to the current standard treatment approach with radiotherapy and TMZ seems promising.
  
  
  METHODS
  GERT is a one-armed single-center phase I/II trial. In a first step, dose-escalation of TMZ from 50 mg/m2 to 75 mg/m2 together with radiotherapy and cetuximab will be performed. Should safety be proven, the phase II trial will be initiated with the standard dose of 75 mg/m2 of TMZ. Cetuximab will be applied in the standard application dose of 400 mg/m2 in week 1, thereafter at a dose of 250 mg/m2 weekly. A total of 46 patients will be included into this phase I/II trial. Primary endpoints are feasibility and toxicity, secondary endpoints are overall and progression-free survival. An interim analysis will be performed after inclusion of 15 patients into the main study. Patients' enrollment will be performed over a period of 2 years. The observation time will end 2 years after inclusion of the last patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The goal of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combined RCHT-immunotherapy with TMZ and cetuximab as first-line treatment for patients with primary GBM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. stephanie.combs@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Stephanie E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Combs
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heeger
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haselmann
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Edler
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Debus
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schulz-Ertner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000068818:Cetuximab; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018450:Disease Progression; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis; D000077204:Temozolomide
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D003606:Dacarbazine; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000068818:Cetuximab; D000077204:Temozolomide