Treatment for glioblastoma (GBM)
This site is intended for US healthcare professionals only.
Optune is a noninvasive, portable device that is classified as durable medical equipment (DME).
Optune delivers Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) to selectively disrupt mitosis in dividing cancer cells.4 To learn more, visit Optune MOA.
Transducer arrays are applied to the shaved scalp and must be changed at least 2 times per week (every 4 days at most)
Portable for use in normal daily activities
Note: Avoid activities that may result in the device or transducer arrays becoming wet. Getting the device wet may cause it damage
Optune should be switched on ≥18 hours per day
Compliance was a predictor of improved overall survival in both the newly diagnosed GBM and recurrent GBM pivotal studies
Connect patients appropriate for Optune with an experienced Optune user through the Buddy Program.
Experienced users, known as Optune Ambassadors, can speak to their experiences around incorporating Optune into daily life. Have your patients call 1-844-247-1636 or register online.
Brian is an Optune patient.
Patient image reflects the health status of the patient at the time the photo was taken.
1. Prescribe: Certified physician prescribes Optune. Optune is available at more than 700 centers across the United States.3 To find out if there is a center near you, visit the Certified Treatment Centers page.
2. Submit: Prescription Order Form and supporting documents.
3. Support: Once the prescription is processed, Novocure supports your patients through the reimbursement process and will assign your patient a designated Device Support Specialist (DSS).
4. Initiate: For your convenience, there are 2 ways to get patients started on Optune:
Home 
In your office
DSS will deliver the Optune Treatment Kit and will complete live personalized technical training.
Optune can only be prescribed by certified physicians. Certification training can be provided to you by Novocure, or you can refer your patient to a certified physician.
References: 1. Stupp R, Taillibert S, Kanner A, et al. Effect of tumor-treating fields plus maintenance temozolomide vs maintenance temozolomide alone on survival in patients with glioblastoma: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2017;318(23):2306-2316. 2. Novocure. Novocure (NVCR) q4 2017 results. https://3sj0u94bgxp33grbz1fkt62h-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/NVCR_2017Q4_Earnings_Presentation_vF.pdf. Published February 22, 2018. Accessed March 20, 2018. 3. Novocure Data on File OPT-115.1. 4. Optune Instructions For Use. Novocure 2016. 5. Optune Patient Information and Operation Manual. Novocure 2017.
Find out more about access and reimbursement assistance, 24/7 technical support, and starting patients on Optune.
Learn moreOPT-055.4-13
*The NCCN defines good performance as Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) ≥60. The trial for which the IFU is based used an eligibility criteria of KPS ≥70.
The NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way.
Optune is intended as a treatment for adult patients (22 years of age or older) with histologically-confirmed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).
Optune with temozolomide is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed, supratentorial glioblastoma following maximal debulking surgery, and completion of radiation therapy together with concomitant standard of care chemotherapy.
For the treatment of recurrent GBM, Optune is indicated following histologically- or radiologically-confirmed recurrence in the supratentorial region of the brain after receiving chemotherapy. The device is intended to be used as a monotherapy, and is intended as an alternative to standard medical therapy for GBM after surgical and radiation options have been exhausted.
Contraindications
Do not use Optune in patients with an active implanted medical device, a skull defect (such as, missing bone with no replacement), or bullet fragments. Use of Optune together with implanted electronic devices has not been tested and may theoretically lead to malfunctioning of the implanted device. Use of Optune together with skull defects or bullet fragments has not been tested and may possibly lead to tissue damage or render Optune ineffective.
Do not use Optune in patients that are known to be sensitive to conductive hydrogels. In this case, skin contact with the gel used with Optune may commonly cause increased redness and itching, and rarely may even lead to severe allergic reactions such as shock and respiratory failure.
Warnings and Precautions
Optune can only be prescribed by a healthcare provider that has completed the required certification training provided by Novocure (the device manufacturer).
Do not prescribe Optune for patients that are pregnant, you think might be pregnant or are trying to get pregnant, as the safety and effectiveness of Optune in these populations have not been established.
The most common (≥10%) adverse events involving Optune in combination with temozolomide were thrombocytopenia, nausea, constipation, vomiting, fatigue, medical device site reaction, headache, convulsions, and depression.
The most common (≥10%) adverse events seen with Optune monotherapy were medical device site reaction and headache.
The following adverse reactions were considered related to Optune when used as monotherapy: medical device site reaction, headache, malaise, muscle twitching, fall and skin ulcer.
Use of Optune in patients with an inactive implanted medical device in the brain has not been studied for safety and effectiveness, and use of Optune in these patients could lead to tissue damage or lower the chance of Optune being effective.
If the patient has an underlying serious skin condition on the scalp, evaluate whether this may prevent or temporarily interfere with Optune treatment.
Please click here to see the Optune Instructions For Use (IFU) for complete information regarding the device's indications, contraindications, warnings, and precautions.
On this site, patient and healthcare professional videos as well as all images labeled as Optune users, caregivers, or healthcare professionals depict actual patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. All other depictions of patients and caregivers are actor portrayals.
Optune is intended as a treatment for adult patients (22 years of age or older) with histologically-confirmed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).
* In 2015, SOC was considered surgery, radiation, and TMZ.4
† Median survival is shown as time from randomization. In the EORTC/NCIC study, patients were randomized within 6 weeks of diagnosis.2 In the EF-14 study, patients were randomized 4 to 6 weeks after chemoradiation, which was a median of 3.8 months from diagnosis.1
‡ In 2005, SOC was considered surgery and radiation.5
EORTC/NCIC, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer/National Cancer Institute of Canada; OS, overall survival; SOC, standard of care; TMZ, temozolomide.
