title: Nimotuzumab  treatment of malignant gliomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In spite of new alkylating medication and recently accumulated knowledge about genomics, the prognosis of malignant gliomas remains poor. The introduction of single substances interfering with tumour proliferation dynamics has been disappointing and the lessons learned indicate that a complicated network of proliferation needs time consuming, in-depth analysis in order to more specifically treat now distinguishable subgroups of a disease, which too long was thought of as a uniform entity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical trials using the EGFR antibody nimotuzumab in the treatment of malignant gliomas are reviewed. Pending conformation in future studies the antibody might be part of the treatment of MGMT-negative, EGFR-amplified, not completely resected gliomas of adulthood and juvenile DIPG (pontine gliomas). Upcoming genomic results of the different tumour entities may suggest certain combination partners of the antibody. Recent studies of nimotuzumab indicate the reason for the lack of toxicity, which is the most attractive argument for its clinical use besides modest efficacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We await the final results on the use of the antibody together with vinorelbine and radiation therapy for the therapy of DIPG. Adult patients with MGMT-negative, EGFR amplified, not totally resected GBM may also profit from this combination therapy. TK-inhibitors combined with the antibody and irradiation may be an option for a therapeutic trial in paediatric patients.
authors.affiliation: University of Bonn Medical School, Department Paed. Haematology/Oncology, Bonn, Germany. udo.bode@ukb.uni-bonn.de
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bode
authors.forename: Maura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massimino
authors.forename: Ferdinand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Khuhlaeva
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Westphal
authors.forename: Gudrun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fleischhack
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C501466:nimotuzumab