Project Overview

Glioblastoma multiforme and high grade astrocytomas are aggressive brain tumors that are difficult to treat. These tumors have genetic changes that affect their ability to repair DNA. Recent research has discovered that a combination of two drugs, Olaparib and Durvalumab, could be effective in treating these tumors. Olaparib blocks a DNA repair pathway, and Durvalumab is a type of immunotherapy.

In early clinical trials, the combination of Olaparib and Durvalumab was tested in patients with different solid tumors, including gliomas. Among 10 patients with gliomas, two patients showed significant reductions in tumor size. Combining these two drugs seems to work better than using either drug alone.

Although these early results are promising, it’s not clear which patients will benefit the most. The proposed study aims to use stored tumor samples and blood samples to figure out why some patients respond well to the combination treatment. Researchers will use machine learning to analyze the data and predict which patients will respond positively. These findings will guide future research and potentially lead to better personalized approaches for patients with these difficult-to-treat tumors.

Principal Investigator

Xin Wang , University Health Network

Partners and Donors

Henry and Berenice Kaufmann Foundation