A Systematic Review of Glioblastoma-Targeted Therapies in Phases II, III, IV Clinical Trials

1Since 1926, different classifications of brain tumors have been proposed, based mainly on histological and malignancy criteria. Increasing knowledge on glioma molecular characteristics enabled the proposition of a new classification in 2016. Figure 1 recapitulates the main steps of the modern classification of gliomas. Glioblastoma (GBM) is a high-grade glioma (grade IV), the most aggressive and the most frequent glioma. In the 2016 classification, GBMs are divided into three groups according to the status of the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) gene: (i) GBMs IDHwt [this group represents 90% of GBMs and corresponds to primary GBMs], (ii) mutated IDH GBMs [this group represents 10% of GBMs, corresponds to secondary GBMs, occurs in young patients and has a better prognostic], (iii) Not otherwise specified (NOS) GBMs [status could not be evaluated]. When histological data suggest GBM and immunohistochemical analysis of IDHmut is negative, sequencing is recommended. Sequencing is no longer recommended after the age of 55. Inhibitors of the mutated IDH proteins are currently evaluated in GBM in Phase I clinical trials (NCT02073994, NCT02273739). They will thus not be further described in this review.

2The standard treatment of GBMs is based on surgical resection followed by radiotherapy (RT) and concomitant chemotherapy for 6 weeks. The area around the tumor is irradiated with 2 Gy per day, five days per week for a total dose of 60 Gy. The chemotherapy used is Temozolomide (TMZ) at 75 mg/m2 per day. After this radiochemotherapy, TMZ treatment is pursued alone every four weeks at 150–200 mg/m2 per day for 5 consecutive days. TMZ is an alkylating agent that causes DNA damage, cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis. After oral administration, it is spontaneously hydrolyzed into an highly instable metabolite: 3-methyl-(triazen-1-yl)imidazole-4-carboxamide (MTIC) which reacts with water and releases highly reactive 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide and methyldiazonium. The latter induces methylation at the O6 and N7 positions of a guanine and N3 position of an adenine. These mutations cause aberrant repairs.

3Despite these aggressive treatments, recurrence generally appears within 6–9 months of diagnosis. In 90% of cases, recurrence is at the edge of the surgical resection. At the appearance of recurrence, patients’ survival is low: 3–6 months. No protocol has yet been validated in the management of recurrent GBM. An increase in RT doses does not lead to gain in survival but induces more toxicity, including necrosis of healthy tissue. Long-term side effects of radiation exposure (among which neurocognitive, psychosocial, endocrine …) are present months or years after treatment and cause problems in rare people who survive as the effect of side-effects increases with time. Increasing the doses of TMZ is also not more efficient. In most cases, patients with recurrent GBM are included in clinical trials. If not, several therapeutic molecules are proposed in the second line, mainly alkylating agents (lomustine, carmustine, fotemustine, carboplatin or procarbazine), microtubule destabilizing agent (vincristine) or antiangiogenic drug (bevacizumab). In absence of standard protocols, the therapeutic strategy is discussed for individual patients. In addition, corticosteroids, anticonvulsants (lacosamide, levetiracetam) and anticoagulants are used in the progression of tumors in the event of intracranial pressure, stroke and deep venous thrombosis epilepsy which occurs in 30% of patients with primary brain tumors.

4Different improvements of the current protocol (surgery, radio and chemo therapies) or new strategies based on the particular microenvironment of GBM are increasingly proposed for the effective care of GBM. They are briefly mentioned below, but are not the focus of this review. But regardless of strategies, if new treatments allowed for significantly longer survival, they would require more than improving patients’ survival and would minimize long-term side effects to preserve or even improve patients’ quality of life. Late adverse events induced by administered treatments should be addressed.

5New strategies are proposed to improve the drug passage through the blood brain barrier (BBB) to achieve a higher therapeutic concentration at the tumor site. Delivering chemotherapy directly into the surgical resection cavity has been proposed. Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) allows chemotherapy to be delivered directly via a catheter in the tissue surrounding the GBM resection cavity. This method increases the volume of distribution but results in unpredictable brain diffusion. It requires the use of several surgical procedures, leading to a high risk of infection or bleeding. Another strategy consists of administrating the therapy directly at the tumor resection bed. The use of small lipophilic molecules, able to passively cross the endothelial cells of the BBB, has been tested in combination with standard therapies. Encapsulating therapies in nanoparticles (10–200 nm) not only increases their solubility but also their release time and stability, while reducing side effects.

6GBM has long been considered as a non-immunogenic tumor due to immunosuppressive adaptation mechanisms, low levels of T cells, dendritic cells and monocytes, decreased IgG and IgA and increased regulatory T cells. Many different recent reviews focus on novel therapies that harness the immune system, including vaccination, T-cell therapies, immune check-point modulators or adaptive immunotherapy.

7Targeting tumor cell metabolism is another option. GBM is a hypoxic tumor. Hypoxia plays a role via different hypoxia inducing factors, HIF-1α and HIF-2α. HIF1-α or factors implicated in the HIFs pathways have been proposed as potential therapeutic targets (as for examples profilin-1 or FIH1). To date, one Phase II clinical trial has been performed via the inhibitor of HIF2α, PT2385 (NCT03216499).

8Approaches aiming to exploit the metabolic deregulation of tumor cells compared to healthy cells are also increasing and characterization of specific metabolic pathways and metabolites are under intense investigations. Tumor cells have an increased need for glucose compared to healthy cells. Thus, unlike healthy cells that use mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to generate ATP, tumor cells use aerobic glycolysis (the “Warburg effect”). Based on this concept, reduction of glucose delivery to tumor cells, for example, might influence their growth without influencing normal cells.

9Delivery of low-intensity, intermediate-frequency (100–300 kHz) alternating electric fields through the TTFields, Optune®, Novocure Inc., Portsmouth, NH USA (tumor treatment fields) device has given an alternative strategy to treat GBM. It was approved by the FDA since 2011 for recurrent GBM. Beside antiproliferative and anti-mitotic effects, this device efficacy might also be related to inhibition of migration, invasion, angiogenesis and DNA repair as well as induction of apoptosis and immune effects.

10GBMs are characterized by a high molecular and transcriptional inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity. Developments in multi-omic analysis have led to identification of specific molecular signatures discriminating at least 3 different subclasses (mesenchymal, proneural and classical) but also emphasized a high degree of plasticity between cellular states. Nevertheless, proposition of targeted therapies has increased these last years based on promising preclinical data which supported the initiation of clinical trials. The aim of this paper is to make an exhaustive review of the different clinical trials (completed or under way) focusing on drugs considered as targeted therapeutics. We have divided the topic in 4 different sections considering drugs inhibiting (1) stem cells and stem cell pathways (Section 3.1), (2) the growth autonomy and migration (Section 3.2), (3) the cell cycle and escape to cell death (Section 3.3) and (4) angiogenesis (Section 3.4). Clinical trials of phases I/II, II, III or IV have been considered but not those of Phase I.

111 April 2020 has been set as the end date for data collection for this study. The flowchart (Figure 2) lists the clinical trials included and excluded from this manuscript. Briefly, 1519 clinical trials were listed on www.clinicaltrials.com (accessed on 1 April 2021) for GBM. Restrictions were applied to keep only clinical trials on adults and phases I/II to IV. 788 clinical trials remained (212 Phase I/II, 488 Phase II, 14 Phase II/III, 70 Phase III & 4 Phase IV). They have then been sub-classified: 257 clinical trials concerning targeted therapies are described in this review, and 531 clinical trials were excluded from this analysis as they are related to (i) RT, irradiation, imaging, classic cytotoxic chemotherapy, surgery, (ii) immunotherapy and vaccine therapy, (iii) other tumors than adult brain tumors, and (iv) other studies, such as withdrawal trials, trials which did not retain enough patients or did not pass phase II, studies on hypoxia, metabolism, anti-depressants, vitamins, hormones, molecules for sleep disorders, or cognitive decline, or drugs for which molecular targets are not clearly identified.

12To recapitulate, the 257 clinical trials described in this review cover 20-years of targeted therapies in clinical phases I/II and over, for adult GBM. In addition to GBM, clinical trials including gliomas, high grade gliomas, gliosarcomas, anaplastic astrocytomas, or other brain tumors were retained. Children and young patient brain tumors were excluded.

13Twelve tables detail the different clinical trials underway or completed in phases I/II, II, III or IV. The dates mentioned correspond to the start of the clinical trial and the last date of data update on Clinicaltrials.com. In tables, comparative trials with a significant difference between two treatments are highlighted in green and those with a non-significant difference are highlighted in red.

14The different GBM biomarkers targeted in phases I/II, II, III and IV and described in the following paragraphs are presented in Figure 3.

15The discovery of tumor stem-like cells in solid tumors including glioma has changed the landscape of the origin of tumors and their recurrence. These cells also named “GBM initiating cells” (GICs) or “GBM stem cells” (GSC) exhibit self-renewal capacity and differentiating ability to form the tumoral mass. The presence of GICs can be explained by the malignant transformation of neural (non-tumor) stem cells and/or by the de-differentiation of tumor cells into tumor stem cells following radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

16GICs are reported to be more resistant to current treatments than differentiated tumor cells explaining their role in GBM recurrence. This increased resistance can be explained by (1) a quiescent condition, resulting in the ineffectiveness of currently used chemotherapies targeting the cell cycle, (2) High expression of efflux transporters, including MRP1 (Multidrug resistance-associated protein 1) and P-gP (Permeability-GlycoProtein), evicting therapeutic molecules and (3) a defective regulation of apoptosis, with higher expression of survival factors and an ability to adapt to a stressful environment.

17The discovery of GICs has generated hope for new therapeutic targets. Eradicating GICs would prevent the initiation of GBM on the periphery of surgical resection and reduce drug resistance and recurrence. Three strategies are currently being studied to induce apoptosis of GICs: (i) directly targeting the signaling pathways involved in the self-renewal of GICs (Table 1), (ii) inducing their differentiation to sensitize them to therapies, and (iii) inhibiting the pathways that control their resistance.

18Wnt pathway

19The Wnt signaling pathway is involved in the development of neural stem cells. Aberrant activation of this pathway is involved in their malignant transformation and the development of brain tumors. The Wnt pathway is also involved in the invasion of GBMs and in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Inhibiting the Wnt pathway in GICs leads to the sensitization to TMZ by decreasing the transcription of the transport proteins ABCC2 (MRP2) and ABCC4 (MRP4). Two proteins are being investigated in the inhibition of the Wnt pathway: β-catenin and GSK3-β. Diclofenac and Celecoxib, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, respectively, have been shown to inhibit β-catenin and to induce a decrease in the proliferation and migration of GBMs cells. Tested in Phase II in newly diagnosed GBMs, combined with TMZ, Celecoxib had no survival benefit (NCT00112502). Two GSK3-β inhibitors were assayed in preclinical assays on GBMs cells: AR-A01441 and LiCl. These two agents increase the apoptosis of GBMs cells, decrease neurosphere formation and clonogenicity. Two new selective inhibitors of the Wnt pathway have been synthesized: SEN461 and XAV939. In vitro, SEN461 is known to be responsible for the inhibition of GBM cell growth. However no clinical trials have analyzed the efficacy of GSK3-β inhibition in vivo.

20Notch pathway

21The Notch pathway is involved in invasion, resistance to anti-VEGF (Vascular endothelial growth factor) therapies and recurrences of GBMs. Activation of this pathway induced by one of its ligands (Delta and Jagged) results in the cleavage of the Notch receptor, allowing the release of the receptor’s intracellular domain and its translocation to the nucleus. Notch’s cleavage is mediated by α and γ-secretase. It has been suggested that targeting the Notch pathway via inhibition of γ-secretase may be useful. Several inhibitors have been tested in vitro, such as MRK003, GSI (RO4929097), and dnMAML. Only the GSI compound (R04929097) is currently being tested in clinics (Table 1). A Phase I study, investigating the toxicity of GSI combined with Bevacizumab, showed encouraging results (NCT01189240). The study is being pursued in a Phase II study.

22Hedgehog (SHH) pathway

23The SHH signaling pathway is associated with resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Two main effectors of this pathway exist: SMO (smoothened) and Gli1 (glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1). SMO inhibition is achievable via two inhibitors, LDE225/Sonidegib and GDC-0449/Vismodegib. The latter is currently in clinical trials (Phase II) in recurrent GBMs (NCT00980343) and (Phase I/II) in patients with newly diagnosed GBM without O6 methylguanine methyl transferase (MGMT) promoter methylation (NCT03158389, referred below as N2M2 (NOA-20), NCT Neuro Master Match the umbrella protocol for Phase I/IIa trials of molecularly matched targeted therapies combined with RT).

24Glasdegib (PF-04449913), another SMO inhibitor that has demonstrated potent and selective inhibition of Hedgehog signaling in vitro, and significant antitumor efficacy in vivo in various solid and hematologic malignancies, is a rational therapeutic agent currently in phase I/II for patients with newly diagnosed GBM, since it inhibits SHH pathway interfering with cancer stem cells and endothelial migration.

25Gli1 can be inhibited by the cyclopamine. This steroidal alkaloid induces a decrease in the number of GICs and leads to RT sensitization. The optimization of cyclopamine, by addition of a glucuronide group, showed a decrease in the tumor mass without having the toxic effects of Gli1 inhibition in astrocytes. This formulation specifically targets tumor cells expressing the beta-glucuronidase enzyme. Similarly, the formulation of cyclopamine in micelles leads to inhibition of the proliferation and invasion of GBMs cells. This formulation also enhances the cytotoxic effect of TMZ in vivo. No clinical studies have tested Gli1 inhibition.

26STAT3 pathway

27The transcription factor STAT3 has an established function in neural stem cell and astrocyte development. It has been found to play dual tumor suppressive and oncogenic roles in glial malignancy depending on the mutational profile of the tumor. Napabucasin (BBI608), a small molecule that blocks stem cell activity in cancer cells by targeting the STAT3 pathway, is currently in clinical Phase I/II in combination with TMZ in adult patients with recurrent or progressed GBM (NCT02315534, Table 1).

28Very few clinical trials addressing these points are currently developed although new targets are suggested through preclinical explorations.

29As previously mentioned, inducing differentiation of GICs would sensitize them to current therapies. Simulating the BMP (Bone Morphogenetic Proteins) pathway is possible by different mechanisms:Activation of an effector of the BMP pathway, such as BMP-7, blocks the tumor progression in vitro.Using mimic effectors of the BMP pathway: the BMP-2 protein mimicking peptide, GBMP1, has been developed to activate this pathway and is currently being studied. Activation of the BMP pathway is currently tested in clinical trials. A Phase I study is testing the recombinant protein hrBMP4 in recurrent GBMs (NCT02869243).

30Activation of an effector of the BMP pathway, such as BMP-7, blocks the tumor progression in vitro.

31Using mimic effectors of the BMP pathway: the BMP-2 protein mimicking peptide, GBMP1, has been developed to activate this pathway and is currently being studied. Activation of the BMP pathway is currently tested in clinical trials. A Phase I study is testing the recombinant protein hrBMP4 in recurrent GBMs (NCT02869243).

32A new strategy aims to target adenosine, which is involved in GIC chemoresistance. Physiologically, adenosine is produced by the degradation of AMP by the factors CD39 and CD73. In GBMs cells, CD73 expression is increased and leads to an increase in adenosine levels. An increase in the A3AR adenosine receptor has also been observed in GBMs cells. Inhibition of A3AR receptor expression induces a decrease in MRP1 activity and increased sensitivity to chemotherapy. CD73/A3AR/MRP1 is a potential therapeutic target, not yet tested in a clinical setting.

33Two other adenosine receptors, A1B and A2B, are involved in apoptosis and GIC differentiation. The stimulation of these receptors by agonists helps to sensitize GICs to chemotherapy.

34Mutations in RAS/MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways are reported in 88% of GBMs. Their hyperactivation plays a central role in cell survival, growth, angiogenesis and cellular metabolism. It is mainly caused by ligand-induced stimulation of tyrosine kinase receptors (RTKs), such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFR). The different RTKs are activated by the autophosphorylation of their tyrosine kinase domain, which results in the binding and activation of PI3K. The activated PI3K transforms PIP2 into PIP3. The latter binds to AKT and transports it to the plasma membrane where residues are phosphorylated by PDk-1 (on Thr308) and mTORC2 (on Ser473). The activation of AKT leads to a phosphorylation cascade and to the activation of several proteins involved in cell growth, angiogenesis and apoptosis, including mTOR and its partner mTORC1. One of the main inhibitors of this pathway is PTEN, which prevents the transformation of PIP2 into PIP3.

35The RAS/MAPK pathway activation results in the transformation of GDP to GTP, recruitment of RAF to the membrane and its activation, and ERK phosphorylation.

36Targeting the different effectors of these pathways would reduce growth autonomy and migration of the GBM.

37The ErbB family of proteins contains four receptor tyrosine kinases, structurally related to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR or HER1). EGFR and HER2 are promising anti-tumor targets for the therapy of GBM (Table 2).

38The EGFR signaling drives cancer development. EGFR aberrant expression and signaling promotes cell growth, survival, invasion and angiogenesis, and regulates tumor metabolism and cell stemness. EGFR is a clinical target in solid tumors. In GBM, EGFR is amplified and/or mutated in more than 50% of cases. EGFR and its mutant EGFRvIII are the subjects of extensive research. Several strategies are proposed to inhibit these receptors, including monoclonal antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) and anti-tumor vaccines. The first two classes are described in this review (Table 2).

39Cetuximab was the first chimeric antibody proposed to target EGFR. Two Phase II studies did not show any therapeutic benefit in patients with recurrent GBM, either as monotherapy or in combination with Bevacizumab and Irinotecan.

40Panitumumab, the first fully human monoclonal anti-EGFR antibody to enter clinical trials for the treatment of solid tumors, did not prove to be beneficial for GBM patients in a phase II with irinotecan (NCT01017653).

41Nimotuzumab, a humanized anti-EGFR antibody, also did not show a gain in overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS) in patients newly diagnosed and treated with the Stupp protocol (phase III) (NCT00753246). These results were disappointing compared to an earlier study that showed that the combination of nimotuzumab with RT resulted in prolonged survival. Nimotuzumab remains a potential interesting therapy. Indeed, an enhancement of the cytotoxic activity of TMZ in vivo has recently been observed.

42GC1118, an anti-EGFR antibody which seems more potent to inhibit EGF binding to EGFR than cetuximab or panitumumab is currently being tested as monotherapy (NCT03618667).

43Sym004 is a synergistic antibody combination containing two recombinant mAbs (futuximab and modotuximab) which binds to different non-overlapping epitopes of EGFR and promotes a rapid EGFR internalization and degradation. Sym004 overcame cetuximab resistance in pre-clinical lung cancer cells. However, it did not improve OS in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. In GBM, it is evaluated as monotherapy (NCT02540161).

44Depatuxizumab-mafodotin (ABT-414) is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) composed by an anti-EGFR IgG conjugated to the tubulin inhibitor monomethyl auristatin F. Depatuximab-mafodotin failed to show survival benefit in newly diagnosed GBM but used in combination with TMZ in EGFR amplified recurrent GBM presented a possible efficiency.

45Erlotinib is a reversible inhibitor of EGFR tyrosine kinase activity. Two Phase II studies did not show any improvement in OS when combining erlotinib and bevacizumab with TMZ as adjuvant therapy to the Stupp protocol in newly diagnosed patients. Similar results were observed in a Phase II study analyzing the efficacy of Erlotinib in combination with sorafenib.

46Gefitinib is a reversible and specific inhibitor of EGFR tyrosine kinase activity. Combined with RT in newly diagnosed patients, OS is not improved compared to RT alone, nor is it improved as adjuvant after RT.

47Afatinib, an irreversible pan-inhibitor of the ErbB family (including EGFR and EGFRvIII) did not show better results than TMZ in a Phase II study (NCT00727506). Nevertheless, an increase in PFS has been observed in patients with tumors expressing EGFRvIII or with EGFR amplification.

48Dacomitinib is a pan-HER family inhibitor (EGFR, HER2, and HER4), approved as first-line treatment of EGFR mutant NSCLC. In GBM, dacomitinib was tested as monotherapy in tumors with EGFR amplification or with the presence of the most common EGFR mutation in GBM EGFRvIII, but it provided minimal benefits.

49HER2 tends to be activated by forming heterodimers with other members of the family or other receptors, since no activating-ligand is known. HER2 overexpression in breast cancer cells promotes tumor aggressiveness and thus became a therapeutic target combined with a companion test. HER2-targeted antibody trastuzumab in breast cancer is a successful example of a targeted therapy.

50Even though HER2 expression is low in GBM cells, multitargeted TKI of HER2, EGFR and VEGFR family are being tested in clinical trials.

51Lapatinib and neratinib are two treatments used in HER2-positive breast cancer. In GBM, Lapatinib, a dual EGFR and HER2 kinase inhibitor, did not provide therapeutic gain in patients with recurrent GBMs in a Phase II study. This compound together with TMZ and RT in newly diagnosed patients is in clinical trials (NCT01591577).

52Series of multikinase inhibitors have been tested in GBM (Table 3 and Table 4). Usually developed initially against one specific target, they proved able to inhibit different RTKs or non-receptor kinases as their ATP/ADP binding pocket revealed similarities. This characteristic may have advantages as simultaneously inhibiting several kinases may limit drug resistance and compensatory pathways. Most of them are able to target EGFR, PDGFR, vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR) known targets of GBM or even HER2, a target in breast cancers.

53Anlotinib inhibits VEGFR, FGFR, PDGFR and c-kit. Anlotinib is tested in GBM clinical trials as monotherapy or combined with Stupp protocol.

54TG02 is an inhibitor of CDKs, JAK2 and FLT3 able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and is therefore an interesting therapeutic for brain tumors. TG02 is assayed in GBM in combination with TMZ (NCT02942264).

55Tesevatinib is an inhibitor of EGFR, HER2, VEGFR and ephrin B4, used in polycystic kidney disease and tested as monotherapy in GBM (NCT02844439).

56Vandetanib, an inhibitor of EGFR, VEGFR2 and RET, has shown encouraging preclinical results. A 94% decrease in xenograft tumor size was observed when combined with TMZ and compared to TMZ alone. However, the addition of vandetanib to the Stupp protocol does not prolong the survival of newly diagnosed patients (NCT00441142).

57Other multi-kinase inhibitors, such as cabozantinib, TG02, bosutinib are tested in GBM. All clinical trials, ongoing or completed, are listed in Table 3.

58Inhibition of PDGFR

59Similar to EGFR, the PDGF receptor is involved in the activation of the PI3K pathway. It is overexpressed or amplified in 75% of GBMs and thus appears as an interesting therapeutic target. PDGFR inhibition has been largely explored in GBM. However, no specific PDGFR inhibitor exists and inhibitors are multikinase inhibitors (Table 4).

60Imatinib was the first inhibitor targeting PDGFRα/β, BCR-Abl, c-kit. Although Imatinib has not shown clinical benefit in combination with hydroxyurea, it is currently in clinical trials.

61Dasatinib, an inhibitor of PDGFRβ, EPHA2, BCR-Abl, c-kit and SRC, was ineffective in a Phase II study in patients with recurrent GBMs.

62Tandutinib, an inhibitor of PDGFRβ, FLT3, c-Kit, was tested in a Phase II study with Bevacizumab in patients with recurrent GBMs. The results indicated that this combination does not improve patient survival compared to standard therapy (NCT00667394). Another Phase II study showed similar results and was stopped.

63Sunitinib, an inhibitor of PDGFRα/β, c-kit, VEGFR1/2/3, FLT3 and RET, also provided disappointing results. A Phase II study did not show any clinical benefit of sunitinib in patients with recurrent GBMs compared to bevacizumab or conventional chemotherapies. Similar results were observed in newly diagnosed non-operable patients.

64Regorafenib inhibits a mutant isoform of BRAF (BRAFV600E), KIT, RET, angiopoietin 1 receptor, PDGFRα, VEGFR1/2/3 and FGFR1/2. In GBM, it is evaluated as monotherapy or together with the Stupp protocol.

65Crenolanib, an inhibitor PDGFR and FLT3 is evaluated as monotherapy in recurrent GBM with PDGFRα gene amplification (NCT02626364).

66Ponatinib (AP24534), a multi-targeted kinase inhibitor of BCR-Abl, PDGFRα, VEGFR2, FGFR1, and Src but also RET, KIT, and FLT1, is assayed as a monotherapy in recurrent GBM refractory to bevacizumab (NCT02478164).

67Leflunomide, an antimetabolite and inhibitor of PDGFR, EGFR and FGFR, is used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. In preclinical trials, the active compound inhibited glioma cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Now it is evaluated as monotherapy in GBM (NCT00003293).

68Besides these multi-target drugs, specific anti PDGFR antibodies have been designed and tested in GBM. A fully human anti-PDGFR antibody (IMC-3G3) blocks ligand binding and receptor activation and is being tested in different solid tumors. A comparative clinical trial between IMC-3G3 monotherapy and ramucirumab (targeting VEGFR2) monotherapy did not show improved survival (NCT00895180).

69Another monoclonal anti-PDGFRα antibody, MEDI-575, was well tolerated but showed limited clinical activity in GBM.

70Inhibition of IGFR1 and FGFR

71Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) activation by its ligand IGF1 promotes GBM cells survival through PI3K/AKT pathway activation. Thus, inhibition of IGF1R may be an interesting strategy to suppress GBM progression. Moreover, IGF1R overexpression in GBM is correlated with a shorter survival and lack of response to TMZ. A phase I/II clinical trial (NCT01721577, Table 4), used AXL1717, an antagonist of IGF1R, as a single agent in the treatment of recurrent malignant astrocytomas. Monotherapy was well tolerated. Further optimizations in dose need to be performed.

72Mutations of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) are rare in GBM but signalling through FGFRs impacts GBM progression and patient survival. For example, fusion between FGFR and TACC (transforming acidic coiled-coil containing proteins) enhances tumor-growth and aneuploidy events. FGFR1,2,3 mutations and fusion are targeted by BGJ398 (Table 4) as monotherapy in a phase-II clinical trial in GBM. However, BGJ398 was out licensed and no more studies were performed.

73Inhibition ALK

74Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase that belongs to the insulin receptor superfamily, is expressed in about 60% of GBMs and conveys tumorigenic functions. Second-generation ALK inhibitors, such as alectinib, might be novel therapeutic agents against GBMs, as they induced cell death in various human GBM cell lines with lower concentrations than other ALK inhibitors. The specific anti-tumor mechanism of alectinib is not yet described. Alectinib is currently tested in the N2M2 Phase I/IIa clinical trial (NCT 03158389, Table 4).

75Table 5 describes the clinical trials concerning the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway.

76Inhibition of mTOR.

77Another target in the PI3K/AKT pathway is mTOR. Several mTOR inhibitors are available and tested in clinical trials.

78Among them, temsirolimus, which has recently been shown to target GICs, is the subject of many clinical trials. Two Phase II studies did not show clinical benefits when combined with bevacizumab or sorafenib (NCT00800917). More recently, a Phase II study comparing the combination of temsirolimus with RT in newly diagnosed patients did not show any difference in survival compared to the Stupp protocol (NCT01019434). It is actually tested in the N2M2 (NOA-20) clinical trial (NCT03158389).

79Sirolimus (rapamycin) showed promising preclinical results by decreasing 95% tumor mass in vivo. In addition, it also decreased the proliferation of GICs and their differentiation. Despite these results, sirolimus combined with erlotinib is not effective in GBM recurrence (NCT00672243, Table 2).

80Similar results were observed with everolimus. A Phase II study showed that the administration of everolimus before the Stupp protocol in newly diagnosed patients does not provide any clinical benefit compared to the standard protocol.

81ABI-009 is a novel albumin-bound mTOR inhibitor (albumin-bound rapamycin nanoparticles, nab-rapamycin), currently tested as single agent or in combination with standard therapies (NCT03463265) in a Phase II study.

82AZD2014, an inhibitor of both mTORC1 and mTORC2, causes radiosensitization of GICs in vitro and in vivo. This compound is currently in a Phase I clinical trial (NCT02619864).

83Inhibition of PI3K

84Several PI3K pan-inhibitors have shown promising in vitro and in vivo results, some of which are being tested in clinical trials.

85Pictilisib is an isoform inhibitor of PI3K α/δ. Combined with RT and TMZ, it has a pro-apoptotic action, increases autophagy and decreases the migration capacities of GBMs cell lines. In vivo, it increases sensitivity to RT and TMZ. Pictilisib was compared with pembrolizumab in a phase I/II study but data are not published (NCT02430363).

86Buparlisib (BKM120) inhibits cell invasive capacities in vitro and reduces tumor invasion in vivo. It is currently being tested in two phase I/II and II studies (NCT01349660 NCT01339052). In the Phase II study (NCT01339052), buparlisib achieved significant brain penetration, but had low efficacy in patients with PI3K-activated recurrent GBM, which was explained by incomplete blockade of PI3K pathway in tumor tissue.

87Sonolisib (PX-866), an isoform inhibitor of PI3K α, δ and γ reduces the invasive and angiogenic capacities of GBM cells in vitro. In vivo, decreased tumor growth and increased survival of xenografted mice were observed. A Phase II study did not show clinical benefit in the case of recurrent GBMs (NCT01259869).

88Paxalisib (GDC-0084) is a brain-penetrant small molecule inhibitor of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. An interim analysis from Kazia Therapeutics reviewed OS of 17.7 months (nine patients) compared to the median OS for patients treated with TMZ (12.7 months). Final data of the phase II trial (NCT03522298) are expected to be presented in the first half of 2021, but FDA has already granted fast track designation to paxalisib.

89Inhibition of AKT

90Enzastaurin is an inhibitor of AKT and protein kinase C. This molecule was the first to provide clinical benefit in a subgroup of patients with recurrent GBMs according to their MGMT status. Enzastaurin has been compared to lomustine in a Phase III clinical trial (NCT00295815). Median PFS, 6-month PFS rate and OS did not differ significantly between enzastaurin and lomustine. Enzastaurin was well tolerated, had a better hematologic toxicity profile but did not have superior efficacy compared with lomustine in patients with recurrent GBM.

91Other AKT inhibitors with promising results are being tested in preclinics or Phase I, such as perifosine, nelfinavir, MK2206.

92RAS/MAPK pathway is activated by many receptors including tyrosine kinase receptors and involved in cell survival and proliferation. RAS/MAPK has been targeted in GBM (Table 6).

93One inhibitor of this pathway, TLN-4601, did not demonstrate therapeutic efficacy in monotherapy in a Phase II study in the event of recurrence.

94Sorafenib is a Raf-1 and p38 inhibitor, involved in the RAS-MAPK, VEGFR, c-kit and PDGFR pathways. Although sorafenib has been shown to potentiate the pro-apoptotic effect in GBMs cells, it does not appear to improve sensitivity to radiotherapy and chemotherapy in vivo. For clinical trials, the combination of sorafenib and TMZ in recurrent GBMs provides a PFS of 3.2 months and an OS of 7.4 months. Combined with bevacizumab, erlotinib and temsirolimus, it does not provide clinical benefit. Disappointing results were also observed in newly diagnosed patients treated with sorafenib and combined to the Stupp protocol in adjuvant therapy.

95Two Ras-MAPK inhibitors are in Phase II clinical trials: LY2228820 and atorvastatin. The latter molecule could potentiate the effects of TMZ in vitro and in vivo. In a Phase II study (NCT02029573) in combination with standard therapy (RT/TMZ) in newly diagnosed GBM patients, preliminary results are encouraging and met criteria for continued accrual.

96Dabrafenib is a BRAF inhibitor that binds and inhibits the active conformation of the receptor. Dabrafenib is evaluated in combination with the MEK inhibitor trametinib in newly GBM (NCT03919071).

97A very recent study includes binimetinib (a MEK inhibitor) with encorafenib (a BRAF inhibitor) in adults with recurrent BRAF V600-Mutated HGG (NCT03973918).

98The lipid proliferation switch led to the discovery of a novel anticancer drug target, the tumor repressor protein sphingomyelin synthase 1 (SGMS1). The activation of SGMS1 by 2OHOA, a synthetic hydroxylated fatty acid, modulates the lipid content of cancer cell membranes, regulates the localization of key signalling proteins, including Ras and PKC at the plasma membrane, leading to inactivation of Ras/MAPK, PI3K/Akt and PKC/cyclin/CDK signalling pathways. The clinical trial in Phase I/IIa NCT01792310 demonstrated its safety and efficacy in humans. 2OHOA was designed as orphan drug by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of glioma and is now tested in a Phase IIb study (NCT04250922).

99A major reason for the failure of chemotherapy is the resistance of GBM cells to cell death by apoptosis, necrosis or autophagy.

100Apoptosis can be mediated by the extrinsic and the intrinsic pathways. The extrinsic pathway results from the activation of the TNF-R1, FAS and DR4/DR5 death receptors through their respective ligands TNFα, CD95 and TRAIL. The intrinsic pathway is regulated by proteins of the BCL-2 family and of the inhibitor of aptotosis (IAP) family. Pro and anti-apoptotic members of the BCL2 family regulate mitochondria-dependent cell effects. When apoptosis is triggered mitochondria become permeable and release cytochrome C. The two pathways converge on a series of catalytic cascades involving caspases. The tumor suppressor p53 is implicated in several pro-apoptotic pathways and appears mutated in about 30% of GBM. Restoring apoptosis may be obtained by targeting different apoptosis players (Table 7).

101Activating proteins involved in the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis

102The CD95 death receptor is overexpressed in GBMs and mesenchymal GICs. It is also associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition. APO010 and APG101 are two CD95 agonists. APO010 has significant anti-tumor activity in GICs, increasing their sensitivity to TMZ in vitro. Administered locoregionally, APO010 increases mice survival. A phase II study showed that the combination of the agonist APG101 with re-irradiation in recurrent GBM improves PFS but not OS compared to re-irradiation alone. This therapeutic benefit is more pronounced in mutated IDH tumors.

103TRAIL/DR5 dependent cell death can be induced by ONC201. ONC201 binds and antagonizes dopamine receptors DRD2 and DRD3 causing p53-independent apoptosis in tumor cells. ONC201 inhibits the phosphorylation of AKT and ERK pathways, leading to the dephosphorylation of transcription factor FOXO3A, and thus transcription of pro-apoptotic death receptor ligand TRAIL. Through a stress response activation ONC201 is involved in EIF2α phosphorylation and increases DR5 expression Based on the the first results using ONC201 in monotherapy which showed that the treatment was well tolerated and that ONC201 may have single agent activity in GBM, a phase II clinical trial was started on GBM with H3 K27M mutation (NCT02525692). It showed that ONC201 can be used regardless of age or location.

104Activating proteins involved in the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis

105The TSPO protein is involved in the permeabilization of the mitochondrial membrane. Its level of expression being correlated with a poor prognosis, it is considered a potential target for apoptosis restoration. Several ligands of TSPO (Translocator protein), derived from pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine acetamides, are able to specifically reduce the proliferation of GBMs cells. No clinical trials are underway with these new molecules.

106Targeting proteins involved in the regulation of apoptosis

107Due to its role in regulating both pathways of apoptosis, targeting the p53 protein has also been suggested to reactivate its pro-apoptotic functions, by gene therapy or by inhibiting its interaction with MDM2.

108In a recent study, a tumor-targeting p53 nanodelivery system (SGT53) showed sensitization of resistant GBM cells to TMZ in vitro and increase in the survival of xenografted mice. Gene therapy is currently in a Phase II clinical study (NCT02340156).

109Inhibition of MDM2-p53 interaction to trigger apoptosis is an approach that showed encouraging preclinical results. Among these, ISA27 inhibits cell growth in vitro and in vivo while nutlin-3a induces apoptosis and senescence of glioma cells. α5β1 integrin-specific inhibition in association with nutlin-3a also triggered a strong apoptosis in glioma cells expressing a functional p53. Idasanutlin (RG7388) with more potency, selectivity, and better pharmacokinetic profile than other MDM2 inhibitors appears interesting in preclinical assays, is tested in clinical trials for acute myeloid leukemia and recently in the N2M2 (NOA-20) clinical trials in GBM (NCT01358389). Finally, the AMG-232 inhibitor has shown encouraging results including inhibition of tumor growth in several xenografts (lung, osteosarcoma, etc.) and tumor regression in mouse models. This agent is currently in Phase I clinical trials (NCT03107780, NCT01723020).

110Farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTI) can induce apoptosis, as they revert cells to a state in which cell-substratum attachment is necessary for viability. Inhibition of farnesyltransferase (FT) by tipifarnib blocks the prenylation of the farnesyltransferase tail CAAX motif, thereby preventing Ras binding to the membrane and its activation. Tipifarnib is tested in four clinical studies in monotherapy or combined with RT or TMZ or other targeted therapies (NCT00050986, NCT00058097, NCT00005859 and NCT00335764). Lonafarnib (SCH66336) is a FTI that blocks farnesylation of cell proliferation proteins, such as RhoB, RAS, laminins and CCAX phosphatase. It inhibits in vitro and in vivo cell growth in combination with chemo and/or radiotherapy. A phase II was performed in combination with TMZ (NCT00038493).

111Simultaneous reactivation of p53 and TSPO proteins appears to be more effective in promoting apoptosis in GBMs cells but also in reducing the risk of resistance. Reactivating these proteins using molecules with irreversible action has been suggested in order to reduce the risk of recurrence.

112Another potential approach is to target anti-apoptotic proteins from the BCL-2 family. The compound gossypol binds to the common part of proteins Bcl-2, Bcl-XL and Mcl-1. Its combination with TMZ was shown to inhibit the invasive and proliferative abilities of GBMs cells and angiogenesis in vitro, and to cause apoptosis in vivo. Gossypol was tested as monotherapy in a phase II (NCT00540722).

113Finally, a new therapy targeting the Bcl-2 protein consists of the administration of spherical nucleic acid (SNA). SNA-NU-0129, a formulation containing gold nanoparticles and a siRNA targeting BCL2L12, is involved in the inhibition of this protein and in the induction of cellular apoptosis in vitro. A Phase I study is ongoing in recurrent GBMs and gliosarcomas (NCT03020017).

114Autophagy is a degradation mechanism that can also induce cell death independently of caspases. It is based on the encapsulation of proteins, cytoplasm and organelles in vesicles that will be degraded in lysosomes. The pro- or anti-tumor function of autophagy in the GBM is still uncertain. Molecules inducing autophagy, such as curcubitacin, itraconazole, rutin, givinostat can have different consequences, but none of them are yet tested in Phase I/II or more.

115In addition, chloroquine, inhibiting autophagy via lysosomal protease blockade and fusion between lysosomes and autophagosome, provoked a decrease in cell proliferation and migration, and an induction of apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. Chloroquine is in Phase I and II clinical trials in combination with TMZ and/or RT (NCT02378532, NCT02432417, NCT00224978 & NCT00486603) (Table 8).

116Table 9 details all the clinical trials of this section.

117CDK4/6 inhibitors

118Cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) signalling regulates cell cycle, cell differentiation, metabolism and apoptosis. In glioma cells, CDK4 is overexpressed which led to glioma cell proliferation and TMZ resistance. CDK4/6 inhibitors (palbociclib/PD 0332991, abemaciclib) specifically blocked the cell cycle at the G1-to-S transition phase, leading to cell cycle arrest and stopped cell proliferation. These inhibitors are approved in combination with anti-oestrogen therapies for the treatment of hormonal breast cancer, and are being studied in GBM upon surgical resection. Palbociclib is one of the drug tested in the GBM phase I/IIa trial NCT03158389.

119Proteasome inhibitors

120The proteasome is a central cellular protein-degradation machinery. It regulates cell homeostasis in normal and cancer cells. Bortezomib, the first-generation proteasome inhibitor, was approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. This therapy is able to increase apoptosis levels in preclinical brain tumor assays. Moreover, clinical trials using proteasome inhibitors in combination strategies are being tested to maximize therapeutic efficacy and limit toxicity. Bortezomib is studied in combination with TMZ and/or radiation, or with an inhibitor of histone deacetylase.

121Marizomib, is a second-generation, irreversible proteasome inhibitor with a more lipophilic structure, having the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. It has been tested in patients with newly diagnosed and recurrent GBM in phase I and phase II studies. In patients with recurrent GBM, marizomib was administered in a Phase I/II study as a single agent or in combination with bevacizumab (NCT02330562) and in a Phase II study as a single agent or in combination with bevacizumab or RT/TMZ or ABI-009, or lomustine (NCT03463265). Based on encouraging observations, marizomib combined with RT/TMZ is actually in a Phase III study (NCT0334509).

122Histone deacetylase inhibitors

123Epigenetic alterations in histones control chromatin structure and transcriptional activation. Besides their potential role in onset and progression of cancer, they are generally reversible and thus interesting therapeutic targets. Histone acetylation relaxes chromatin and allows access to DNA and transcription activation. On the other hand, histone deacetylases (HDAC) compacts chromatin and represses transcription. HDACs can be essential for cancer cell survival and growth, showing an epigenetic vulnerability of tumor cells. HDAC inhibition can induce tumour cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, reduction of angiogenesis and enhancement of tumor-mediated immunity. HDAC inhibitors in GBM tends to re-establish the balance of histone acetylation and sensitizes tumor-mediated immunity. It can also sensitize tumor cells when used in combination, for example, with radiation therapy. Several clinical trials are testing HDAC inhibitors as monotherapy or in combination in GBM. Vorinostat as a monotherapy had modest activity in patients and did not improve PFS or median OS in association with bevacuzimab (NCT01738646) or bortezomib (NCT00641706). Another HDAC inhibitor, FR901228 (Romidepsin), was ineffective for patients with recurrent GBM (NCT00085540).

124TGF-β inhibitors

125Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is a cytokine secreted by immune cells, tumor cells, and stromal cells. TGF-β is overexpressed GBM tissues but inexistent in normal brain. TGF-β signalling regulates GBM proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, immunosuppression, and GSCs stemness. Targeting TGF-β signaling mechanisms is a promising therapeutic strategy. In GBM clinical trials, TGF-β pathway are targeted by antisens oligonucleotide (trabedersen, NCT004331561) and by small molecules, OKN-007 (NCT03649464), and galunisertib (NCT01582269, NCT01220271). Results are available for galunisertib and trabedersen.

126Targeting of TGF-β2 signaling through inhibition of TGF-β mRNA translation by using the antisense oligonucleotides trabedersen, injected in the resection cavity, was tested in GBM in a Phase IIb (NCT00431561) but the first results did not show statistically significant differences among the three arms: trabedersen at doses of 10 or 80 mM or standard chemotherapy (TMZ or procarbazine/lomustine/vincristine).

127Galunisertib targets the TGF-β1 receptor and selectively inhibits the serine/threonine activity of the receptor, thereby preventing the phosphorylation of downstream proteins, SMAD2 and SMAD3. It demonstrated antitumor effects in preclinical and radiographic responses. But no differences in efficacy, safety or pharmacokinetic variables were observed in a Phase Ib/IIa clinical trial (NCT01220271) between the two treatment arms (TMZ/RT with and without galunisertib).

128PARP inhibitors

129Defects in DNA repair pathways are a characteristic feature of cancer cells. They participate in tumour development by promoting genomic instability. For more than 50 years, this characteristic has been exploited as a therapeutic opportunity for the treatment of cancer, with the use of conventional cytotoxic chemotherapies. More recently, the discovery of a synthetic lethality interaction between DNA damage induced by PARP (poly[ADP-ribose] polymerase) inhibitors led to the development of new therapeutic approaches. The PARP proteins use NAD+ as their substrate to modify acceptor proteins with ADP-ribose modifications. Most PARP inhibitors target the NAD+ binding site.

130A high expression of PARP-1 mRNA is associated with low survival, particularly in classical GBMs. A few molecules inhibiting PARP-1 are in clinical trials. Among them, iniparib (BSI-201) taken concomitantly with RT and TMZ has shown encouraging results, in human glioma xenografts, resulting in complete tumor regression in 70% of animals. This PARP1 inhibitor plus TMZ was evaluated in a phase I/II in newly-diagnosed GBM (NCT00687765). Other NAD+ mimetics, olaparib (AZD2281), veliparib (ABT-888) and pamiparib (BGB-290) inhibit the catalytic activity of PARP-1 and PARP-2 and are currently being studied in phase I or I/II clinical trials. Only results for veliparib combined with TMZ (NCT01026493) are available. The concept of this study was to exploit methylation at positions N3-adenine and N7-guanine, supposedly independent of the MGMT effect and related more to base excision repair with PARP. But the study did not demonstrate any clinical activity.

131Angiogenesis is a complex process regulated by multiple signaling pathways. Due to a high tumor proliferation, access to oxygen and nutrients decreases in some areas of a tumor, leading to hypoxia and necrosis. GBM are highly angiogenic tumors and blocking neo-angiogenesis has represented an interesting therapeutic way for twenty years.

132Clinical trials for VEGF and VEGFR targeting are described in Table 10.

133Bevacizumab

134VEGF is overexpressed in GBMs and plays a major role in angiogenesis by activating its receptor VEGFR. Since 2009, the food and drug administration (FDA) has approved bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF antibody, as a treatment in recurrent GBMs. Indeed, non placebo-controlled Phase II clinical trials highlighted the bevacizumab anti-tumor activity and this molecule is considered effective alone or in combination with Irinotecan, a topoisomerase I DNA inhibitor. Based on encouraging results, few clinical trials were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of bevacizumab in comparative studies. However, results of these trials have been estimated insufficient by EMA to approve bevacizumab use in GBM in Europe. This discrepancy between drug authorities lead to huge off-label use of bevacizumab for GBM, mostly at recurrence, since this antibody is also marketed for the treatment of ovarian, lung, breast and colorectal cancer.

135For other studies presented in Table 10, bevacizumab is usually the reference treatment of the control arm to be compared to combinations of bevacizumab plus other experimental molecules targeting different pathways.

136In a Phase II study, the combination of bevacizumab and TMZ did not show a survival benefit compared to bevacizumab alone. Similar results were observed in several other Phase II studies with bevacizumab in combination with temsirolimus, Carboplatin and irinotecan. Only the combination of bevacizumab and lomustine appears to provide encouraging results in terms of survival and quality of life in a Phase II study. However, these promising results were not demonstrated in a Phase III study, in which the combination therapy resulted in a PFS benefit but no OS improvement (NCT01290939).

137The efficacy of bevacizumab was also studied retrospectively in patients exposed to a second irradiation. This study shows that bevacizumab might be a protective agent against a second irradiation. The improvement in irradiation with an anti-angiogenic agent was explained by the normality of vascularization during VEGFR blockade. Indeed, this “normalization window” allows a temporary increase in tumor oxygenation, which improves the damage induced by irradiation.

138No benefit for bevacizumab with or without conventional treatment was obtained in different clinical trials. Only one Phase II study, analyzing the combination of RT and bevacizumab followed by an adjuvant therapy combining bevacizumab and irinotecan, showed an improvement in PFS compared to the Stupp protocol in patients with non-methylated MGMT status. A (non-significant) tendency towards an OS gain was also shown when TMZ was combined with bevacizumab in neo-adjuvant Stupp protocol therapy compared to the same protocol without Bevacizumab in non-operable patients. Finally, it was retrospectively shown that proneural GBMs could benefit on the addition of bevacizumab compared to placebo (OS = 17.1 vs. 12.8 months HR = 0.43; p = 0.002).

139Molecules targeting VEGFR

140Pazopanib, a VEGFR1/2/3, PDGFR-α/β, and c-Kit inhibitor, administered as monotherapy, did not show therapeutic benefit in recurrent GBMs.

141Cediranib is an oral, highly potent VEGFR inhibitor with similar activity against all three VEGF receptors and c-Kit and partial activity against PDGF receptors. Cediranib, as monotherapy, has provided encouraging results in recurrent GBMs. However, in combination with lomustine, cediranib did not show any therapeutic benefit, due to an increase in EGFR levels. Recently, a survival benefit has been reported with the combination of cediranib and gefitinib in recurrent GBMs.

142Nintedanib, alone, did not show any survival benefit in recurrent GBMs. Note that nintedanib is an inhibitor of VEGFR1/2/3, FGFR1/2/3 and PDGFRα/β.

143Dovitinib, an FGFR, PDGFRβ, VEGFR and c-kit inhibitor, currently in clinical trials, sensitizes GBMs cells to TMZ in vitro.

144Vatalanib is a VEGFR1/2/3, PDGFRβ and c-kit inhibitor. Its tolerance and safety were evaluated in a Phase I/II study (NCT00128700) in newly diagnosed patients and in combination with imatinib and hyroxyurea in patients with glioma.

145Most of these molecules have multiple targets. A few other molecules for which only a few clinical trials are ongoing and for which few results have been published, are listed in Table 10, such as tivozanib, axitinib, semaxanib, CT-322 (a molecule based on an engineered variant of the tenth type III domain of human fibronectin), and the monoclonal antibody tanibirumab (a specific binder to VEGFR2, thereby preventing the binding of its ligand VEGF).

146Table 11 shows the clinical trials concerning the secondary pathways of angiogenesis.

147The failure of anti-VEGF therapies might be explained by compensatory mechanisms, through activation of other factors involved in angiogenesis in response to VEGF inhibition.

148c-MET pathway

149The c-MET pathway is deregulated because of an overexpression of (i) the c-MET receptor via mutation or amplification, or (ii) its HGF ligand. Activation of this pathway is particularly important in the transformation of endothelial cells into mesenchymal cells, in the induction of aberrant vascularization and in tumor progression. In addition, its activation is associated with a decrease in VEGFR2 expression, which leads to resistance to anti-VEGF therapies.

150Onartuzumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting c-MET, induced a decrease in the growth of GBMs cells. Combined with bevacizumab in recurrent GBMs, ornatuzumab provides a PFS similar to bevacizumab alone. Nevertheless, this study showed a survival benefit in patients with high HGF expression or non-methylated MGMT status.

151Other c-MET inhibitors have been developed and are currently being investigated. Among these, crizotinib (a c-MET and ALK inhibitor) causes GBMs cells to become sensitive to TMZ. Crizotinib is currently being tested in combination with TMZ in a Phase I study (NCT02270034). Cabozantinib, a c-MET and VEGFR2 inhibitor, was tested in a Phase I study, combined with TMZ during the Stupp protocol and in two Phase II studies as monotherapy in recurrent GBM (NCT01068782 and NCT00704288).

152Targeting the c-MET ligand, HGF, is also being investigated. The anti-HGF antibody, rilotumumumab (AMG 102), did not show therapeutic benefit in monotherapy in a Phase II study in patients with recurrent GBMs.

153PIGF pathway

154Another factor involved in angiogenesis is PIGF, a member of the VEGF family, binding to VEGFR1 (FLT1) and its neuropilin-1/2 co-receptors (NRP1/2). It is expressed in GBMs and tumor endothelial cells. Aflibercept, also called VEGF-trap, is a recombinant fusion protein mimicking binding domain of VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 and blocking different ligands (VEGF-A, VEGF-B and PlGF). In monotherapy or in combination with bevacizumab in recurrent GBMs, no survival benefit was observed. These disappointing results might be explained by a decrease in PIGF expression during tumor progression, in particular after treatment with TMZ. This new therapeutic option seems more relevant in newly diagnosed patients.

155Endoglin

156Endoglin (CD105) is strongly expressed in endothelial cells with high proliferation rates. TCR105 is a chimeric antibody targeting endoglin, which enhances the effects of bevacizumab in vivo, tested in two clinical trials (NCT01648348, NCT01564914). The combination of TRC105 and bevacizumab was well tolerated, but TRC105 with bevacizumab did not prolong median PFS versus bevacizumab alone in recurrent GBM patients.

157Endoglin is also studied as a diagnostic marker and to estimate the degree of angiogenesis. The endoglin labelling is more typical of neoplastic endothelial cells and is correlated to Ki67, thus making it specific and sensitive to the evolution of angiogenesis in GBM.

158Other pathways of angiogenesis are described in Table 12.

159Thalidomide is a long-established anti-angiogenic agent that inhibits the angiogenic activity of β-FGF and TNF-α. However, when combined with RT in GBM, no benefit was observed in newly diagnosed GBMs. It has shown limited gastrointestinal toxicity and anti-tumor activity in combination with irinotecan, and is currently in clinical trials in combination with the Stupp protocol in newly diagnosed GBMs (NCT00047294).

160Integrins αvβ3 and αvβ5 have been proposed as targets of new anti-angiogenic therapies. Promising results have been observed when combining an inhibitor of these integrins, cilengitide, with the Stupp protocol in newly diagnosed patients. Nevertheless, in two clinical studies (one phase II and one phase III), this combination did not show survival gains in patients with methylated and non-methylated MGMT status. ATN161 (Ac-PHSCN-NH2) is a selective antagonist for α5β1 integrin. It is a capped five amino-acid peptide derived from the synergy site of fibronectin, a region which enhances the fibronectin’s RGD-mediated binding to the α5β1 integrin. ATN 161 is antiangiogenic and antimetastatic and was evaluated in a phase I/II trial for recurrent malignant glioma (NCT00352313).

161Trebananib (AMG-386) is an angiopoietin neutralizing peptibody comprising a peptide with angiopoietin-binding properties that is fused to the Fc region of an antibody with an antiangiogenic effect in solid tumor. It inhibits the interaction between the ligands angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 with the Tie-2 receptor. Angiopoietins (Ang1 and Ang2) and their RTK (TIE1 and TIE2) are key mediators of tumor angiogenesis. Angiopoietins are overexpressed in GBM and are involved in GBM tumor growth. Moreover, angiopoietin-2 increased in bevacizumab-treated GBM and thus VEGF and angiopoietin-2 combined therapy may overcome bevacizumab resistance. A phase II study used trebananib as monotherapy on patients with recurrent GBM (NCT01290263). Trebananib was also tested in combination with bevacizumab (NCT01609790). However, combination did not significantly improve outcome over bevacizumab alone. Moreover, angiopoietin recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody, PF-04856884, was enrolled on a phase II as monotherapy in patients with recurrent GBM (NCT01225510). This study, which was withdrawn, was not listed in Tables. Until now no further trials were performed in GBM.

162Endostatin is a fragment of type XVIII collagen, and one inhibitor of angiogenesis. Endostatin competitively binds to VEGFR-2 and inhibits MAPK signaling pathway and angiogenesis. Recombinant human endostatin improved chemotherapy efficiency in NSCLC, breast cancer and melanoma. Endostatin is actually tested in GBM in a phase II study with TMZ and irinotecan (NCT04267978).

163Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expression has been demonstrated in the tumor neovasculature of GBM, by immunohistochemical staining. Although its significance has not been fully determined, PSMA may play a functional role in angiogenesis. It is anchored to the cell membrane, which makes it an ideal promising therapeutic target, and can be internalized making it an appropriate candidate for pro-drug activity. Strong reactivity to the antibody component of PSMA antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), BrUOG 263, was observed in the endothelial cells of new tumor blood vessels in GBM. Following binding and internalization of PSMA ADC, the cytotoxic component of PSMA ADC will be released and destroy the neovasculature that supports tumor growth.

164Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially MMP2 & 9, are thought to play a central role in invasion, owing to their ability to degrade the majority of brain ECM components. Prinomastat and COL-3 are two drugs targeting MMPs that may stop the growth of GBM by stopping blood flow to the tumor. They have been tested in two clinical trials. Prinomastat/TMZ compared to TMZ alone did neither improve the one-year survival rate nor PFS (NCT00004200). The clinical trial (NCT00004147) with COL-3 in progressive and recurrent high-grade gliomas did not warrant further studies and did not reach phase II.

165Out of 257 Phase I/II to III clinical trials on targeted therapies listed in the tables of this manuscript, almost 70% are phase II studies (62 Phase I/II, 177 Phase II, 4 Phase II/III, 14 Phase III). Of the studies for which results are available, only 37 are comparative studies with statistical data. Comparative trials with a significant difference between two treatments are highlighted in color in the tables, in green and red for those showing a significant and non-significant difference between two treatments, respectively. It is clear that the red color dominates over the green one. Only 12 studies showed improvements mainly of PFS. Most of them (11 out of 12) involve therapies targeting VEGF and VEGFR. Although some specific explanations may be proposed for the high degree of these clinical trial failures (see below), improved clinical trial design is also needed. For exemple, Phase II trials may contain a control arm to assess the efficacy of new therapies and to reduce false positive results which remains difficult to establish in the case of recurrent disease in absence of standard treatment; historical control data became obsolete due to the improvement of patient standard of care in the clinic. GBM is a rare disease and enrollment of patients in trials remains too low, promotion of participation must be planned to increase the number of high-quality trials. In addition, the need for stratification of patients at least based on prognostic and predictive biomarkers such as the level of the predictive target is critical. Biomarkers might also help to reduce the development costs through better patient selection. A recent study on the impact of biomarker use in clinical trials shows an overall 5-fold benefit over non-biomarker use by analyzing a collection of 10,000 clinical trials for 745 drugs in four major cancer types (colorectal, lung, melanoma and breast cancer). The neuro-oncology community must work together to be able to change favorably the guidelines on the treatment of GBM.

166Many different targeted therapeutic options are investigated. For more recent trials, we identified two main tendencies. First, is underway a clear upward trend towards approaches with multi-kinase inhibitors (i.e., when a kinase inhibitor interacts with multiple members of the protein kinase family). The second trend is towards a multi-targeted therapeutic approach. Drugs able to target multiple critical nodes for GBM development and progression might help to counteract the lack of efficiency and the rapid acquisition of resistance observed with monotherapies.

167Several factors can explain the therapeutic failure of GBM targeted treatments:Performing a full surgical resection is impossible. Eliminating tumor cells that have migrated into the healthy parenchyma without causing neurological or cognitive disorders is not feasible. 35% of newly diagnosed patients are estimated to be non-operable due to the location or size of the tumor. In these cases, a biopsy is recommended in order to establish a diagnosis. When surgery is possible, macroscopic resection is described as a good prognostic factor. A recent meta-analysis showed that out of 27,865 patients diagnosed with GBM between 2004 and 2013, a biopsy (non-operable case), partial resection and massive resection accounted for 28.5%, 34.8% and 36.8% of cases.Crossing the BBB is not a turnkey operation, despite its potential destruction by tumor invasion or RT. New approaches proposed, such as nanoparticles or convection-enhanced delivery (CED),, show encouraging pre-clinical and clinical results.New molecular and genomic data has highlighted the inter- but also intra-tumoral heterogeneity of GBM, with tumors and tumor areas differing in target expression. Intratumoral heterogeneity is described as the root cause of therapy resistance and might explain the failure of targeted therapies specifically targeting tumor biomarkers, including anti-EGFR (cetuximab, gefitinib, erlotinib …), anti-VEGF (bevacizumab) and anti-integrin (cilengitide) therapies. Below, we tried to explain the failure of the therapies targeting these three proteins. These data highlight the need to combine different targeted therapies.

168Performing a full surgical resection is impossible. Eliminating tumor cells that have migrated into the healthy parenchyma without causing neurological or cognitive disorders is not feasible. 35% of newly diagnosed patients are estimated to be non-operable due to the location or size of the tumor. In these cases, a biopsy is recommended in order to establish a diagnosis. When surgery is possible, macroscopic resection is described as a good prognostic factor. A recent meta-analysis showed that out of 27,865 patients diagnosed with GBM between 2004 and 2013, a biopsy (non-operable case), partial resection and massive resection accounted for 28.5%, 34.8% and 36.8% of cases.

169Crossing the BBB is not a turnkey operation, despite its potential destruction by tumor invasion or RT. New approaches proposed, such as nanoparticles or convection-enhanced delivery (CED),, show encouraging pre-clinical and clinical results.

170New molecular and genomic data has highlighted the inter- but also intra-tumoral heterogeneity of GBM, with tumors and tumor areas differing in target expression. Intratumoral heterogeneity is described as the root cause of therapy resistance and might explain the failure of targeted therapies specifically targeting tumor biomarkers, including anti-EGFR (cetuximab, gefitinib, erlotinib …), anti-VEGF (bevacizumab) and anti-integrin (cilengitide) therapies. Below, we tried to explain the failure of the therapies targeting these three proteins. These data highlight the need to combine different targeted therapies.

171Besides favourable pre-clinical studies, anti-EGFR therapies barely present any clinical benefit for patients with GBM. Several clinical studies are being carried out in newly diagnosed GBM and recurrent GBM with anti-EGFR therapies as monotherapy or in combination with radiochemotherapy or other targeted agents (Table 2).

172Besides the tissue differences between colorectal, head and neck, lung cancers and GBM, EGFR is also molecularly heterogeneous among these cancers. First, EGFR mutations in GBMs (as EGFRvIII) occur within receptor extracellular domain while in lung cancers (as L858R) occur in the kinase domain. Interestingly, EGFRvIII mutation seems to appear at later stages of tumor development. This subclonal EGFR mutation is lost in certain recurrent tumors. However, mutational switch can happen where the initial EGFR mutation is replaced by another in recurrent tumor. EGFRvIII heterogeneity adds another layer of complexity by its location in extrachromosomal double minute structures. Extrachromosomal EGFRvIII loss upon treatment promotes therapy resistance. However, the mutant tends to reappear after TKI withdrawal and resensitizes the tumor. The secondary mutation (T790M) upon TKI treatment provides tumor resistance to therapy, in lung cancer. While, in GBM no EGFR secondary mutation is described as cause of therapy resistance.

173Tumor heterogeneity can be a reasonable case for GBM resistance to EGFR-targeted therapies. Upregulation of redundant receptor tyrosine kinases and deregulation of EGFR downstream molecules can trigger EGFR therapy resistance.

174In GBM, PDGFR and c-MET are also upregulated and contribute to tumor progression. In the same or in other subclones than EGFR, these receptors can mediate an EGFR-inhibition bypass. In vivo, inhibition of EGFR (erlotinib) and c-MET (crizotinib) resulted in decreased tumor growth. Also, in a subcutaneous GBM xenografts, combined inhibition of EGFR and PDGFRβ signaling suppresses tumor growth. Further clinical multi-targeting is needed to test this hypothesis and try to overcome EGFR-therapy resistance in GBM.

175In GBM, an EGFR downstream molecule, PTEN, is often loss. PTEN is a suppressor of PI3K/AKT pathway. Simultaneous expression of EGFRvIII and PTEN was associated with patient response to TKI. However, another study showed that even though PTEN is frequently deleted in GBM, it cannot predict therapeutic efficiency of TKI.

176Moreover, EGFR therapeutic targeting promotes a switch to an angiogenic and mesenchymal tumor phenotype. Mesenchymal switch is associated with GBM therapy resistance. GBM resistance to EGFR therapy is still unclear and further studies are needed to improve EGFR-targeting in clinical trials. Although multi-targeted RTK and combinatory therapies have been newly proposed (Table 2, Table 3 and Table 4), there is an urgent need to develop genetic and cellular representative GBM models.

177The lack of efficacy of bevacizumab, a large-size molecule, can be explained by its intravenous route of administration and poor intracerebral bioavailability. Intra-arterial brain administration, after temporary destruction of the BBB by mannitol and followed by intravenous administration, has shown encouraging results in terms of PFS in patients with recurrent GBMs (PFS = 10 months). Indeed, this route of administration has the advantage of potentiating the cerebral delivery of chemotherapy (local concentration of more than 48.9-fold compared to intravenous administration). Recent results have confirmed the benefit of this delivery method and are being studied.

178The standard dose of bevacizumab is 10 mg/kg IV, injected every two weeks. Although this dose is clinically well tolerated, it can have adverse biological effects, particularly via the formation of hypoxic areas. The study by Heiland et al., 2016 suggested that a low dose of bevacizumab may decrease the size of cerebral edema and may result in better vascular permeability. This study showed an improvement in PFS when bevacizumab is injected at 5 mg/kg every two weeks and is combined with lomustine, compared to bevacizumab alone at 10 mg/kg every two weeks (PFS = 5 months vs. 3.2 months). This therapeutic benefit was not observed in first-time recurrent patients. Finally, at a dose of 5 mg/kg/week, no gain in PFS or survival was observed.

179Although preclinical studies nicely demonstrated that cilengitide may affect both tumoral cells and endothelial cells, failure to improve GBM patient survival of the first antagonist of integrins reaching the clinic was really disappointing. The reasons of this failure can only be guessed, but different factors may be included.

180First, the short half-life (a few hours) and pharmacokinetics of cilengitide restricts its properties in patients. Second, the use of cilengitide at low dose has been shown to stimulate angiogenesis in preclinical models. This point has been addressed in patients where no cilengitide-specific pattern of progression has been detected. Third, no reliable biomarker of cilengitide activity has been identified for stratification of patients. For the CENTRIC assay (the phase III clinical trial), patients were stratified according to the MGMT promoter methylation status, i.e., inclusion concerned only patients with a methylated promoter. A phase II clinical trial (CORE) was conducted concomitantly with patients exhibiting a non-methylated MGMT promoter. Interestingly, a retrospective analysis of both cohorts regarding the expression of the cilengitide targets (αvβ3/β5 integrins) expression, concluded that cilengitide was the most effective in the CORE patients with high level of αvβ3 expression in the tumoral cells and not in the endothelial cells. These results highlight the need for stratification of patients at least based on the level of the predictive target. In line with this, it was recently shown in an elegant work from the Cheresh group, that GBM sensitivity to αvβ3 integrin blockade is not simply related to the overexpression of the integrin but rather to an addiction to glucose uptake by the glucose transporteur Glut3. A fourth point could be added concerning the redundancy of integrin targets; in fact, other integrins (such as α5β1 integrin) may remain active after cilengitide relaying pro-tumoral effects. The story of cilengitide highlights some pitfalls in the transfer of preclinical results towards the clinic but also the need to stratify patients according to pertinent biomarkers.

181The plasticity of GBM cells complicates heterogeneity. It has been shown a bidirectional plasticity between glioma stem cell and their more differentiated counterparts either to form the tumor mass or in answer to therapies. These two types of cells will have different sensitivity to radio/chemotherapies but also to targeted therapies. Recent data emphasized that differentiated tumoral cells may contribute to GIC-dependent tumor progression. These results indicate that targeting both cell populations will be needed to eradicate GBM. In a given tumor, glioma stem cells may vary from a proneuronal to a mesenchymal phenotype with intermediary states and thus acquiring new targets. Plasticity occurs also at the metabolic level when GBM cells adapt to the microenvironment to survive (for example from hypoxic to normoxic area) leading to new resistances. Treatments by themselves induce phenotypic and genomic modifications of tumor areas provoking secondary resistance. For example, bevacizumab has been shown to become ineffective due to the activation of secondary pathways involved in angiogenesis (c-MET, PIGF …).

182It is increasingly recognized that preclinical models have to be improved to reflect the clinical reality. In vitro, from 2D long term established cell lines grown on flat surface, 3D spheroids or cells embedded in several matrices, we now go through investigations on patient-derived primary cell lines either as glioma stem cell culture or as organoids. This last model certainly will recapitulate at best the tumoral and environmental heterogeneity of GBM. The deal for the following years will be to test therapies on such personalized models in a time framework which will allow to return towards the patient as rapidly as possible. Majority of in vivo models still are based on nude mice where immunological networks are absent. Even if syngeneic mice models of glioma can be useful, they lack the human specificities and complexities. Success of targeted therapies may be in part dependent on the development of reliable modeling of GBM.

183Although targeting the immune system is not the subject of this review, this strategy is also part of many ongoing clinical investigations. Moreover, targeted therapy also mediates immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive effects. While early results of checkpoint inhibitors or others immune-targeting drugs have been disappointing when used as monotherapy, likely because of the overwhelming immunosuppressive contribution of the immune tumor microenvironment (iTME), new combinatorial approach might overcome this issue. Interestingly, targeting microglia which is believed to be a major regulator of this iTME, has been suggested in combination with targeted or antiangiogenic therapies responsible of iTME modulation. Indeed, VEGF and TGF-β signaling and abnormal vasculature, all belonging to the selected targets presented in this review has been implicated in fostering immunosuppression. Their inhibition have been already shown to improved immunotherapies clinical outcomes in various cancer. Although the impact of targeted therapies on iTME is still unclear, ongoing clinical trials combining bevacizumab or others targeted therapies to check-point inhibitors (for instance: NCT03743662, NCT03661723, NCT04704154) open new perspectives for GBM treatment.

184Within molecular targeted therapies, the most frequently reported are those targeting (i) EGFR, which gene is amplified or over-expressed in more than 50% of GBMs (40 clinical trials), and more generally tyrosine kinase receptors (85 clinical trials) and (ii) VEGF/VEGFR (75 clinical trials of which 53 involving bevacizumab). Besides diagnostic and prognostic relevance, some markers can be of predictive interest (therapeutic decision making) or even constitute a molecular target that can be activated by a specific therapy (theranostic marker). It seems that new approaches aim to counter heterogeneity by targeting, not specifically certain tumor markers expressed irregularly, but the potential cause of the heterogeneity. New and combined approaches (targeted-, chemo-, immuno-, radiotherapies) may result in reduced secondary resistance because they target the whole tumor. Indeed, the discovery of GBM stem cells gave new hope for the treatment of GBM. Their likely significance in tumor initiation, and therefore in the heterogeneity of the GBM, makes them relevant targets but their differentiated counterparts need to be considered as well as their crosstalk only begin to be understood.

185The 257 clinical trials described in tables of this manuscript reveal that many different options are explored and raised questions still unanswered about targeted therapies. However, they led to the accumulation of new fundamental knowledge, which will definitely help to understand the mechanisms of resistance and advance research. The results obtained in recent years highlight the need to better stratify patients, by providing more personalized treatment corresponding to the genetic composition and evolution of GBMs. In that way, initiatives such as N2M2 (NOA-20) phase I/II trial (NCT03158389) of molecularly matched targeted therapies plus radiotherapy in GBM patients, with an unmethylated MGMT promoter, appears of great interest. In this trial, molecular profile characterization of tumors allows allocation of patients to first line targeted therapies according to their mode of action. Indeed, complex molecular diagnostics will translate in clinical decision and may be the future for GBM treatment.