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What is glioblastoma? -

Glioblastoma (also known as GBM) is a type of cancerous brain tumor. It’s one of the most common malignant tumors to affect adults.

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What is glioblastoma? -

This type of tumor forms in glial cells called astrocytes, which support nerve cells. GBM grows fast and affects the brain and spinal cord.

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How common is GBM? -

Glioblastoma accounts for a great part of all cancerous brain tumors.

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How common is GBM? -

Every year, more than 13,000 glioblastoma cases are diagnosed in the US alone.

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Who’s at risk? -

While GBM can affect people at any age, it’s more common in older adults between their 40s and 70s. The incidence is higher among men.

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Who’s at risk? -

Those exposed to chemicals such as pesticides, petroleum, vinyl chloride, or synthetic rubber are at a higher risk of developing GBM.

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Who’s at risk? -

Other risk factors include prior exposure to radiation therapy to the head.

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Who’s at risk? -

Some genetic conditions that can lead to tumors may also increase the risk of GBM. These include Turcot syndrome, neurofibromatosis, Lynch syndrome, and Li-Fraumeni syndrome, among others.

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What causes glioblastoma? -

The exact cause of GBM is unknown. This is also true for other types of brain cancer.

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Symptoms -

Symptoms of GBM tend to develop rapidly and may include headaches, seizures, memory problems, as well as changes in personality and behavior.

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Symptoms -

Other glioblastoma symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and confusion.

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Symptoms -

Speech difficulties, as well as vision changes (e.g. blurred vision, double vision, etc.), can also be symptoms of GBM.

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Symptoms -

Balance and coordination may also be affected. Fatigue, muscle weakness, and paralysis, have also been reported as symptoms.

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Symptoms -

Loss of appetite is also a reported symptom in some patients. So are changes in sensation, as well as numbness and tingling.

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Diagnosis -

If there is a suspicion of GBM, a number of tests are often conducted, including imaging tests such as a CT scan or an MRI.

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Diagnosis -

A healthcare provider may also conduct neurological exams. These will access things such as balance, coordination, vision, hearing, as well as reflexes and strength.

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Diagnosis -

Should a tumor be detected, a biopsy is usually performed. This is when a sample of tissue is removed for testing. A biopsy will be able to determine whether the cells in the tumor are cancerous and if they're GBM cells.

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Treatment -

GBMs are considered grade 4 brain tumors, meaning they are very aggressive. Treatment of glioblastoma is not easy as the cells spread rapidly, making a complete removal very difficult. For this reason, treatment often comprises a number of approaches.

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Treatment: surgery -

The first step is usually a craniotomy (brain surgery to remove the tumor). The surgery will help relieve pressure on the brain, but complete removal may not be possible for a number of reasons.

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Treatment: laser therapy -

In cases where traditional surgery is difficult to perform, a less invasive laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) may be considered as an alternative.

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Treatment: radiation therapy -

Traditional radiation therapy damages cancer cells. This prevents them from growing.

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Treatment: intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) -

This type of treatment targets the tumor and minimizes the amount of radiation hitting healthy parts of the brain.

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Treatment: stereotactic radiosurgery -

This is a specific type of radiation therapy that works similarly to IMRT in targeting the tumor while reducing damage to healthy tissue.

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Treatment: chemotherapy -

Chemotherapy, a cocktail of drugs that attacks the cancer cells, is a traditionally used cancer treatment, and one that is often employed in cases of GBM.

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Treatment: tumor treating fields (TTF) -

In addition to radio and chemo, patients may also undergo TTF. This is when electric fields are delivered to the brain through a wearable device containing electrodes.

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Outlook -

Being an aggressive type of cancer, patients tend to live sometime between 12 to 18 months after diagnosis.

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Statistics -

According to the European Commission, approximately 15,000 people die every year from glioblastoma in Europe alone.

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Outlook -

Glioblastoma is very difficult to treat, but there is a percentage of people who have lived up to five years after diagnosis.

Sources: (Mayo Clinic) (Cleveland Clinic) (American Brain Tumor Association) (European Commission) 

See also: Have scientists discovered the "holy grail" of cancer drug development?

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