Pathological changes after autologous formalin-fixed tumor vaccine therapy combined with temozolomide for glioblastoma - three case reports - .

Temozolomide (TMZ), an alkylating agent widely used for patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), has the potential to enhance the acquired immune response to GBM. Here, we describe 3 cases of GBM patients treated with autologous formalin-fixed tumor vaccine (AFTV) combined with TMZ. All cases demonstrated pathological changes associated with the therapy. After a 4-week break from the standard initial treatments, 1 patient with primary GBM and 2 patients with secondary GBM received adjuvant TMZ for 5 days combined with AFTV injection and were subsequently treated with multiple cycles of adjuvant TMZ for 5 days every 28 days (AFTV/TMZ therapy). Adverse effects related to AFTV plus TMZ were very minor in all patients. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed partial response in 2 patients. CD3(+)CD8(+) lymphocytes were frequently detected in surgical specimens and MIB-1 labeling index in 2 cases decreased after AFTV/TMZ therapy. AFTV/TMZ therapy is suitable for larger scale clinical trials.