Gabapentin shows potential in extending brain cancer survival

In a study conducted by researchers from Mass General Brigham, findings highlighted that gabapentin, a medication mainly used for pain relief and seizure control, may have potential benefits for patients suffering from glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. This significant research was published in the journal Nature Communications and draws from medical outcomes of nearly 700 glioblastoma patients. Many of these individuals had been prescribed gabapentin to manage nerve pain associated with their condition. The study revealed that glioblastoma patients taking gabapentin experienced an average survival increase of four months, with those on the medication surviving approximately 16 months, compared to 12 months for those not receiving it. This finding is particularly notable given the traditionally poor prognosis linked with glioblastoma, which affects around 14,500 Americans annually and carries a five-year survival rate of just 6.9%. Lead author Joshua Bernstock, MD, PhD, emphasized the importance of continuing research on the relationship between cancer neuroscience and glioblastoma progression, pointing out that such creative strategies are necessary to explore potential therapeutic avenues. He noted that advancements in survival rates for glioblastoma patients have been scarce in recent years, particularly since the early 2000s. The research team also found lower levels of a protein known as TSP-1 in the gabapentin group, suggesting further investigation could be warranted. Despite the encouraging findings, Bernstock cautioned against immediate changes in clinical practice, as the study was retrospective in nature, lacking a controlled, randomized structure to directly assess gabapentin’s effects. Current ongoing work at UCSF aims to address this gap through controlled studies. The overall implications of this research underscore the critical necessity for innovative approaches to combat resistant tumors such as glioblastoma.