Treatment of Patients with Glioblastomas by Low Concentrations of Verapamil Hydrochloride in the Late Postoperative Period

Abstract

Antitumor effect of calcium channel blockers low concentrations has been investigated on the example of verapamil hydrochloride in the combined treatment of patients with glioblastomas after operation. Patients, who underwent brain tumor surgery, postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy, were divided into two groups. The first group of 11 patients was taken by verapamil - hydrochloride in low concentrations, the second group (32 patients) served as a control. The concentration of the drug was selected individually by means of peripheral blood cells aggregation data on the “Plasmon-6” biosensor. The criterion for the drug concentration selecting was the lowest level of peripheral blood cells aggregation in vitro, reflecting the level of NMDA-dependent calcium channels blocking of the peripheral blood cells membranes. The optimal concentration of verapamil - hydrochloride for all patients was less than 10,000. The criteria of the antitumor activity of verapamil-hydrochloride in low concentrations was the length of the patients life in the postoperative period. When using the drug in patients there were no signs of toxic effects of verapamil - hydrochloride on the body, life expectancy was 10 months more compared to the group of patients not treated with verapamil – hydrochloride and the absence of the toxic and tumor-stimulating action of the drug.