A new treatment for children diagnosed with glioma has been approved for routine use on the NHS in Scotland.
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted dabrafenib for use in combination with trametinib for treating children aged one and older with either low-grade or high-grade glioma with the genetic mutation BRAF V600E.
The two drugs, which can be taken in tablet and liquid form, work together by blocking the growth signal coming from the mutant BRAF protein and can slow or even stop the tumour from growing.
Gliomas are the most common type of brain tumour in children and young people. A BRAF mutation is present in around 15-20% of low-grade gliomas and 5-10% of high-grade gliomas in children.
SMC chair, Dr Scott Muir, said: “The committee is pleased to be able to accept these new medicines for use by NHS Scotland. We heard powerful testimony from affected families about the devastating impact that the diagnosis of a glioma brain tumour has on children and their families. Dabrafenib together with trametinib may give children more time without their brain tumour growing and improve their quality of life.”
At present, fewer than 30% of children diagnosed with high-grade gliomas survive beyond five years. While the survival rate for low-grade gliomas is higher at 90%, the treatment children undergo, such as chemotherapy, can have harsh and lasting side effects.
Studies showed that the combination of dabrafenib with trametinib lessened chemotherapy side effects and improved children’s response to treatment. The treatment also increased progression-free survival time from 7.2 months with chemotherapy to 24.9 months under the new regime for those with low-grade glioma, and nine months for those with high-grade disease.
Dr Karen Noble, our Director of Research, Policy and Innovation, said: “This is great news for our brain tumour community in Scotland and particularly timely as we mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Current treatments for paediatric brain tumours are gruelling and this combination therapy offers a much-needed kinder and more effective option for children. Not only is it less harsh, but patients can receive it at home so it will help to improve the quality of life for children diagnosed with glioma and their families.”
To find out what Brain Tumour Research is doing to help find new treatments and ultimately cures for childhood brain tumours, visit our Childhood Cancer Awareness Month page.
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Published Tuesday 10th September 2024.