Advances and challenges in the treatment of glioblastoma: a clinician's perspective

Discov Med. 2013 Apr;15(83):221-30.

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most deadly form of human cancer. Most patients diagnosed with this WHO grade IV malignant glioma survive about 12 months. Despite international efforts, treatment of GBM remains one of the most challenging tasks in clinical oncology. While new molecular pathways active in the biology and invasiveness of glioma are being constantly discovered, translation of basic science achievements into clinical practice is rather slow. Advances in surgical approaches, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are contributing to incremental improvements in survival of the patients with GBM and improved quality of life. Yet much more significant strides need to be made before we can witness positive outcomes, similar to those seen in certain other cancers that can now be treated successfully. This review will discuss standard of care approach to GBM therapy in a newly diagnosed and recurrent setting. It will summarize the recent developments in management of this disease as well as future directions, keeping a practicing clinician in mind.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Brain Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Glioblastoma / diagnosis*
  • Glioblastoma / therapy*
  • Glioma / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Quality of Life
  • Recurrence
  • Signal Transduction
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents