by What is GBM?
Glioblastoma, also called GBM multiforme or GBM, is a highly aggressive cancer that forms in the glial cells of the brain. It is the most common and most harmful form of glioma – cancer that begins in the brain or spine. GBM often spreads quickly to other areas of the brain. The cancer cells are abnormal glial cells called astrocytes. They tend to spread invasive growth tentacles through the brain tissue making surgical removal very difficult.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Some of the common symptoms of GBM include persistent headaches, nausea, seizures, decrease or loss of sensation, weakness on one side of the body, changes in vision or speech, and memory loss. The symptoms often worsen gradually over time as the tumor grows in size. Diagnosis usually begins with a neurological exam along with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT) scans to spot changes in the brain tissue. A brain biopsy may then be performed to examine tissue samples under a microscope to confirm if they contain cancerous cells. Special stains help determine if the cancer is a GBM.
Treatment Options
As Glioblastoma grows aggressively, the primary treatment is typically a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Surgery called resection is done to remove as much of the tumor as possible without damaging critical areas of the brain. However, complete removal is difficult as the cells tend to extend very thin invasive arms into the surrounding brain tissue. Post-surgery radiation therapy using focused beams of high-energy rays directly towards the tumor bed helps destroy any remaining cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs like temozolomide are also commonly used to shrink the tumor. The temozolomide is often given at the same time as radiation therapy and continued later as well. Despite aggressive treatment, the median survival time for patients with GBM averages only 12-15 months.
Studies on Treatment Efficacy
Several clinical trials are underway to test newer treatments and improve survival outcomes for GBM. A recent trial found that tumor treating fields together with chemotherapy modestly improved survival over chemotherapy alone in patients with newly diagnosed GBM. Tumor treating fields use alternating electric fields to disrupt cell division in GBM cells. Researchers are also testing immune therapies like checkpoint inhibitors, virus therapies and vaccines to help the body’s own immune system recognize and attack the cancer cells. Gene therapies hold promise to reprogram problematic cancer genes. New drugs that block specific pathways involved in cancer growth and spread are being studied extensively as well. However, crossing the blood-brain barrier remains a key challenge for drug delivery.
Genetic Factors and Risks
The exact causes of Glioblastoma are still unknown but certain genetic factors are thought to elevate the risks. About 5% of GBM cases are linked to inherited genetic mutations. Rare inherited conditions like Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome and neurofibromatosis type 1 and 2 are associated with higher risks of developing GBM. Environmental exposures to ionizing radiation, certain chemicals like vinyl chloride and N-nitroso compounds are also considered risk factors. Previous diagnosis of other brain tumors also raises the chance of GBM later in life. However, for most newly diagnosed patients, GBM occurs spontaneously without any known risk factors. Advanced age is also a significant risk factor for GBM development.
Long Term Survivors and Outlook
The prognosis for Glioblastoma remains very poor due to its aggressive nature and infiltrative growth. The majority of patients live less than 2 years after initial diagnosis despite active multimodal treatment. Still, a small subset does remarkably better. Long term survival beyond 5 years is rare but possible in less than 10% of patients, usually in younger individuals with better performance status who receive aggressive therapy. Advances in genetic and molecular characterization of individual tumors hold promise to identify patients most likely to benefit from specific targeted therapies in the future. Multiple clinical trials are actively investigating innovative strategies like vaccine and gene therapies to improve outcomes. For now, surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation offers the best chance at regrowth control and prolonging survival. Supportive care also plays a key role in improving quality of remaining life.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
About Author - Money Singh
Money Singh is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the market research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and beverages, biotechnology, chemical and materials, defense and aerospace, consumer goods, etc. LinkedIn Profile
