Mark R. Gilbert, MD, senior investigator, chief, Neuro-Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research, discusses the use of precision medicine in treating patients with glioblastoma.

Gilbert explains that there are complications in the various components of precision medicine and by breaking them down, there may be a greater understanding in treating these patients. These components include tumor heterogeneity, he adds.

Research conducted within The Cancer Genome Atlas has shown that there is differentiation within various cells of one tumor. Therefore, making informed treatment decisions based on original diagnostic tissue should not be done, Gilbert says.

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Dr. Gilbert on Precision Medicine in Glioblastoma

Mark R. Gilbert, MD, a professor of neuro-oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, discusses findings from the RTOG 0825 phase III trial evaluating bevacizumab in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

Several components of the 0825 trial are still under evaluation, including a composite interpretation of progression-free survival that includes data on quality of life and neurocognitive function. Gilbert believes these endpoints are a pivotal component that should be included as part of the composite analysis for all clinical trials.

Additionally, a secondary analysis of MGMT and a 9 gene molecular profile is still under way to determine if patients can be identified who benefited the most from treatment with bevacizumab in the first-line setting.

View more from the 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting

Mark R. Gilbert, MD, from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, discusses findings from the RTOG 0825 phase III trial evaluating bevacizumab in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

Mark R. Gilbert, MD

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Dr. Gilbert on Precision Medicine in Glioblastoma

Dr. Gilbert Describes Ongoing RTOG 0825 Trial Analyses