Practical Solutions in Managing Glioblastoma
Glioblastoma is a very aggressive and common type of brain tumor, which makes life difficult for patients. Their survival rate is usually around 15 months, despite advancements in technology and understanding of the tumors. However, molecular profiling has provided new data to better classify glioblastoma. This includes identifying mutations in certain genes and other genetic and epigenetic alterations that can help predict prognosis.
Treatment Options
- Surgery, radiotherapy, and certain chemotherapy drugs are currently the main forms of treatment.
- Only patients with specific gene methylation are likely to benefit from chemotherapy, guiding the choice of treatment for older patients.
- Clinical trials are investigating targeted strategies based on the tumor’s dominant signaling pathways and antigenic tumor profiles.
Future Possibilities
- Genetic and epigenetic biomarkers may provide important tools for diagnosing and predicting prognosis in glioblastoma.
- New clinical advancements and the potential of liquid biopsies offer hope for advancing personalized medicine in this field.
