What is Glioblastoma?

I wish I didn’t know the word glioblastoma. Our family’s lives irrevocably shifted when we learned its definition. But I think it is helpful to share what we know about it with all of you. The following is a summary of what we’ve learned over the last few weeks, mostly from our neurology team at UM Health-West and American Brain Tumor Association literature.

Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive, fast-growing brain tumor. Currently, there is no known cure for GBM. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy can manage symptoms, slow tumor growth, and extend life expectancy.

General Information

• Glioblastomas belong to a group of primary brain tumors called gliomas

• Gliomas are one of the most common types of brain tumors

• Primary brain tumors start in the brain and rarely spread to other organs

• Like most other types of brain tumors, the exact cause of glioblastomas is unknown

• Risk factors that may raise a person’s chance of developing glioblastoma include exposure to radiation and rare genetic disorders

Glioblastoma Incidence (how often a disease occurs):

• Nearly 15% of all primary brain tumors are glioblastomas

• They are most common in adults, usually occurring in older adults

• The mean diagnosis age is 65; highest rates occurring in age 75-84

• They occur more often in men than women

• They are rare in children & teens (3%)

Tumor Grading Scale 1-4

• Glioblastoma is grade 4 = fast growing and aggressive

Tumor Location

• Glioblastoma most commonly found in the cerebrum, the largest part of the brain that is divided into four lobes (Temporal, Parietal, Frontal, Occipital)

• Glioblastoma is commonly found in temporal lobe, followed by the parietal lobe, frontal lobe, and occipital lobe

  • Temporal lobe: Processing memories, hearing, understanding words

  • Parietal Lobe: Processes sensory information like touch, temperature, and pain

  • Frontal Lobe: Controls reasoning, emotions, problem-solving, speech, and movement

  • Occipital Lobe: Controls vision

  
  

Treatment

Radiation

• Studies suggest that having radiation therapy after surgery increases survival for patients with glioblastoma

• While radiation can be very effective in killing tumor cells, it also can harm normal cells - this damage may result in cognitive changes, such a decline in mental sharpness, thought process, and memory

• Patients experience side effects differently; most side effects go away shortly after treatment is completed

Chemotherapy

• Chemo is a type of “Systemic Therapy” – Systemic therapy uses medication to kill tumor cells

• Temozolomide (also known as TMZ) is an oral chemo drug approved by the FDA to treat glioblastoma; most clinicians have adopted TMZ as the standard of care chemotherapy for treating patients with high-grade gliomas

• Common side effects of TMZ include fatigue, nausea and vomiting, mouth sores, risk of infection, hair loss, loss of appetite, constipation, and diarrhea; side effects usually stop after the treatment is finished

Prognosis

A patient’s prognosis is based on statistics that look at a large group of people with the same disease over time; statistics on survival rates are estimates.

Prognostic Factors:

• % of tumor removed in surgery

• The tumor’s genetic subtype (analyzed using tissue samples taken in surgery)

• Patient age

• Patient’s functional status (ability to carry out daily activities)

When the tumor cannot be cured or controlled, the cancer is called advanced or terminal. Hospice care offers the best possible quality of life for people who are not expected to live longer than six months.

Statistical Glioblastoma Survival Rate

• 1-Year = 43%

• 5-Years = 7%

• 10-Years = 5%