Glioblastoma (GBM) is a deadly brain tumor. It’s a fast-growing cancer that is almost impossible to cure, even when patients receive the best care possible. It’s also one of the most expensive cancers to treat, so many families face financial hardship on top of this life-threatening disease.
The median survival time for adults with glioblastoma is 15 months. This is a terrible statistic, but every day scientists make progress towards better understanding this tumor and broadening treatment options for those living with it.
This type of cancer starts in star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes and spreads quickly, so it’s difficult to remove completely without damaging other parts of the brain. Glioblastomas can affect any part of the brain, but they’re most common in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain and in the cerebellum, a region that controls movement and balance. They can also grow in the spinal cord and brain stem, which control a variety of mental and physical functions.
A doctor may suspect a glioblastoma is present based on a patient’s symptoms. These can include headaches, changes in vision or difficulty speaking, nausea and a loss of coordination. The diagnosis is made after a neurological exam and imaging tests like an MRI or CT scan, which will help doctors find the location of the tumor. They can then take a biopsy, which involves removing a small piece of the tumor for testing.
Scientists don’t group glioblastomas into particular stages, but they do give them a “grade” that tells how aggressive the cancer is and how fast it will grow. A glioblastoma grade 4 is the most aggressive and fastest-growing type. Most cases of glioblastoma are primary, which means they start in the brain from the inside out. However, some recur, usually after radiation to the head given for another condition such as leukemia or lymphoma.
Glioblastomas are not rare, but they tend to affect people over the age of 60. They’re more likely to affect men than women. Other risk factors include having a family history of brain cancer, previous radiation to the head, or certain genetic mutations that increase the chances for developing a brain tumor.
While researchers are working to develop new treatments for glioblastoma, the current standard of care is surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. This treatment can reduce the size of a glioblastoma, but it can’t prevent it from growing back or spreading to other areas of the brain.
Palliative care is important for those with a glioblastoma because it helps to ease pain and improve quality of life. This includes providing patients with emotional support and addressing other symptoms related to the cancer, such as anxiety and depression. Patients and their loved ones should discuss palliative care options with their physicians. They can also consider participating in a clinical trial at a major cancer center to try experimental therapies. These can include anti-tumor antibodies, vaccines to boost the immune system and gene therapy to deliver anti-cancer genes directly to the brain tumor.
