METIS Trial Success: Prolonged Time to Brain Progression in NSCLC Patients with Brain Metastases

A recent phase 3 clinical trial, known as METIS, has shown promising results for patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study involved the use of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy alongside supportive care, resulting in a significantly longer median time to intracranial progression compared to supportive care alone.

In the trial, 298 adult patients with 1-10 brain metastases from NSCLC were randomly assigned to receive either TTFields therapy plus supportive care or supportive care alone after undergoing stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). The group treated with TTFields therapy and supportive care had a median time to intracranial progression of 21.9 months, which is more than double the 11.3 months observed in the supportive care-only group. The therapy was well-tolerated, with patients maintaining quality of life and neurocognitive function.

Dr. Minesh Mehta, a leading radiation oncologist, highlighted the significance of these findings, stating that TTFields therapy not only delayed the time to brain relapse but also improved quality of life and cognitive stability. This could potentially revolutionize the standard of care for patients with brain metastases from NSCLC.

Novocure, the company behind TTFields therapy, plans to submit the trial data to regulatory authorities and publish the findings in a peer-reviewed journal. The company's CEO, Asaf Danziger, expressed gratitude to all those involved in the METIS trial, emphasizing the importance of pursuing innovative treatments for challenging conditions.

TTFields therapy uses electric fields to target and destroy cancer cells without significantly affecting healthy cells. The therapy's unique mechanisms work synergistically to selectively target cancer cells, offering a versatile approach to cancer treatment. Novocure is committed to advancing this therapy for various solid tumors and has ongoing studies in brain metastases, gastric cancer, glioblastoma, liver cancer, NSCLC, pancreatic cancer, and ovarian cancer.

Novocure is a global oncology company dedicated to extending survival in aggressive cancers through the development and commercialization of TTFields therapy. With commercialized products approved for the treatment of glioblastoma and malignant pleural mesothelioma, Novocure continues to expand its reach and impact on cancer treatment worldwide.