A new clinical trial is investigating whether a marine-derived oral supplement could provide benefit in quality of life or progression of disease in people diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common and aggressive form of malignant brain tumour in Australia.
Classified as a Grade 4 tumour, GBM accounts for around 45 per cent of malignant brain cancers nationwide. Despite advances in treatment, prognosis remains poor, with most patients facing a survival time of between six and 18 months.
Southern Cross University's National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM) is now recruiting participants in Sydney to take part in the trial. The study will assess whether adding an oral supplement, Immune-12, to standard medical treatment can improve patient outcomes.
GBM tumours create an environment around them that allows the tumour to continue to grow. Immune-12 is believed to interact with this tumour environment and reduce inflammation to potentially allow the immune system to shift toward a tumour-fighting role.
Derived predominantly from marine sea cucumbers, Immune-12 has shown promising results in early laboratory studies across a range of cancer cell lines. However, researchers emphasise that clinical trials are essential to determine its effectiveness in patients.
Lead investigator, Associate Professor Janet Schloss, said there is an urgent need for new approaches that assist longer-term survival and quality of life for people living with GBM.
"Immune-12 gives a potential adjunct approach to cancer and we have seen some very encouraging results in patients with GBM who have been taking this product. We now need solid evidence to support claims which is why we are conducting a clinical trial," Associate Professor Schloss said.
The clinical trial is funded by natural products company Pacific Marine Biotech Pty Ltd Australia and has received ethics approval from the Sydney Local Health District (RPAH Zone) Human Research Ethics Committee (X24-0308).
How to participate
Participants with a GBM diagnosis will be required to attend monthly appointments for six months at the trial site at Chris O'Brien Lifehouse in Camperdown.
