Optune is the first FDA-approved therapy in more than a decade for newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients. It is a wearable, portable device that has been shown in clinical trials to safely deliver continuous therapy to the location of glioblastoma brain tumors.
Optune creates low-intensity electric fields, Tumor Treating Fields, which help slow or stop glioblastoma brain cancer cells from dividing and may also cause some of them to die.
TTFields work when cancer cells are dividing and do not disrupt healthy resting cells. For patients with newly diagnosed GBM, Optune is used together with the chemotherapy temozolomide after surgery and radiation with TMZ.
Culicchia Neurological Clinic is now certified to prescribe Optune, a new treatment for adult patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Optune is a medical device used to deliver Tumor Treating Fields to disrupt cancer cell division. Dr. Frank Culicchia explains in this video.
Monique Funk is a Culicchia Neurological Clinic patient who is currently undergoing Optune treatment for a recurrent Glioblastoma. The Thibodaux, LA school teacher has found ways to maintain her active lifestyle and still wear the device 18 hours a day. Watch:
How Patients Use Optune
Optune is comprised of an electric field generator, a connection cable and box, 4 transducer arrays, and 3 batteries along with a charger, power supply, and carrying bag.
- Transducer arrays are applied to the shaved scalp and must be changed every 4 to 7 days based on hair growth
- Portable for use in normal daily activities
- Except for activities that may result in the device or transducer arrays becoming wet. Getting the device wet may cause it damage, and getting the transducer arrays very wet is likely to cause the transducer arrays to come loose from the head
- Optune should be worn ≥18 hours per day
- Compliance was a predictor of improved overall survival on Optune in the EF-11 trial
