Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38664630›Full record

ArticleBMC cancer2024

A qualitative evaluation of factors influencing Tumor Treating fields (TTFields) therapy decision making among brain tumor patients and physicians.

Priya Kumthekar, Madison Lyleroehr, Leilani Lacson, Rimas V Lukas, Karan Dixit, Roger Stupp, Timothy Kruser, Jeff Raizer, Alexander Hou, Sean Sachdev and 6 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC cancer, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. The functional imperative in high-grade glioma.Experimental & molecular medicine · 2026
    Review
  2. Review
  3. Association of tumor treating fields (TTFields) therapy with overall survival in newly diagnosed glioblastoma.Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico · 2025
    Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Priya KumthekarDepartment of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Abbott Hall Suite 1122 710 N Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
Madison LyleroehrDepartment of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 N. St. Clair Street, Suite 2210, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
Leilani LacsonEqual Hope, 300 South Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA.
Rimas V LukasDepartment of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Abbott Hall Suite 1122 710 N Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
Karan DixitDepartment of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Abbott Hall Suite 1122 710 N Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
Roger StuppDepartment of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Abbott Hall Suite 1122 710 N Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
Timothy KruserEqual Hope, 300 South Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA.
Jeff RaizerDepartment of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Abbott Hall Suite 1122 710 N Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
Alexander HouDepartment of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
Sean SachdevLou and Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, United States.
Margaret SchwartzDepartment of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Abbott Hall Suite 1122 710 N Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
Jessica Bajas PaDepartment of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Abbott Hall Suite 1122 710 N Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
Ray LezonDepartment of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Abbott Hall Suite 1122 710 N Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
Karyn SchmidtDepartment of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Abbott Hall Suite 1122 710 N Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
Christina AmideiLou and Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, United States.
Karen KaiserDepartment of Neurological Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 N. St. Clair Street, Suite 2210, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA. k-kaiser@northwestern.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTumor Treating Fields (TTFields) Therapy is an FDA-approved therapy in the first line and recurrent setting for glioblastoma. Despite Phase 3 evidence showing improved survival with TTFields, it is not uniformly utilized. We aimed to examine patient and clinician views of TTFields and factors shaping utilization of TTFields through a unique research partnership with medical neuro oncology and medical social sciences.

methodsAdult glioblastoma patients who were offered TTFields at a tertiary care academic hospital were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview about their decision to use or not use TTFields. Clinicians who prescribe TTFields were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview about TTFields.

resultsInterviews were completed with 40 patients with a mean age of 53 years; 92.5% were white and 60% were male. Participants who decided against TTFields stated that head shaving, appearing sick, and inconvenience of wearing/carrying the device most influenced their decision. The most influential factors for use of TTFields were the efficacy of the device and their clinician's opinion. Clinicians (N = 9) stated that TTFields was a good option for glioblastoma patients, but some noted that their patients should consider the burdens and benefits of TTFields as it may not be the desired choice for all patients.

conclusionsThis is the first study to examine patient decision making for TTFields. Findings suggest that clinician support and efficacy data are among the key decision-making factors. Properly understanding the path to patients' decision making is crucial in optimizing the use of TTFields and other therapeutic decisions for glioblastoma patients.

Indexed as

Brain NeoplasmsDecision MakingGlioblastomaAdultAgedClinical Decision-MakingElectric Stimulation TherapyFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPhysiciansQualitative ResearchDecision-makingGlioblastomaTumor treating fields

Identifiers

PMID38664630
PMCPMC11046887

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.