the efficacy of histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid in the treatment of gliomas

This study will measure the efficacy of valproic acid (VPA), a well established anti-seizure medication with known histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor activity capable of restricting proliferation and inducing differentiation and apoptosis in cancer cells in patients with brain tumours. Who is it for? You may be eligible to join this study if you are aged 18 years or above, have been diagnosed with high grade glioblastoma and are having surgical therapy. Study details All participants will undergo their standard treatment of resection/ radiation therapy and chemotherapy with temozolomide as usual. Participants in this study are randomly allocated (by chance) to one of two groups. Participants in one group will receive valproate in the standard dose used for epilepsy as well as standard care which includes chemotherapy and radiation therapy and surgery as usual. Whilst participants in the other group will receive usual care which includes chemotherapy and radiotherapy and surgery as usual. Participants will undergo diagnostic imaging using 3,4-dihydroxy-6-[18F]-fluoro-L-phenylalanine (FDOPA) PET post surgery and 4 weeks after radiation/chemotherapy has finished, which is the same time as the end of the valproate treatment. Changes on the PET scan which measures activity of the tumour will be measured. Effects of valproate on brain cancer biology will be measured by examining the brain tissue and by measuring cancer markers in the blood.