d,l-Methadone does not improve radio- and chemotherapy in glioblastoma in vitro

Purpose Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant tumor of the central nervous system. Median survival of glioblastoma patients under standard therapy including radiotherapy and chemotherapy using temozolomide (TMZ) is 14.6 months. As cell culture experiments combining d,l-methadone with doxorubicin demonstrated an increased reduction of cell viability of glioblastoma cells, the opioid has been discussed as a drug for the treatment of GBM. Despite lack of clinical and experimental evidence that d,l-methadone in combination with standard therapy will be beneficial, an increasing number of tumor patients medicating themselves with d,l-methadone present to the hospitals in Germany.