Glioblastoma Multiform (GBM)

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a type of fast-growing tumor of the brain or spinal cord. Most common primary is a malignant brain tumor.

GBMs almost never spread beyond the brain, spine or central nervous system to other parts of the body. Due to their complex nature, they are very difficult to treat.

GBMs are a wide variety of tumors that contain a mixture of different types of " glial " brain cells. The " multiforme " in its name means "very variable". The cell types in these tumors are variably specialized and interact closely with normal brain cells such as astrocytes , oligodendrocytes , microglia , and cells of blood vessels.

Tumor cells differ in their structure, both in genetic mutations ( lesions that affect DNA in specific genes) and in the activity of the affected genes. This is called “diversity,” “variability,” or “heterogeneity,” meaning “consisting of unique cells.”

According to the classification of the World Health Organization, glioblastoma is a grade 4 brain tumor.

The complexity, diversity, and rapid growth of a GBM tumor make it difficult to develop an effective treatment for patients.

Glioblastoma What is the prognosis for multiforme (GBM) ?

The average survival time is usually extremely short – only 12-18 months. However, 25% of glioblastoma patients survive for more than one year and 5% of patients live more than five years. It is not yet clear why some people survive much longer than others.

for glioblastoma ?

Surgery is the first line of treatment for GBM, usually followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

In the surgical operation to remove GBM , the aim is to remove as many tumors as possible without disrupting the normal functions of the brain. It sometimes limits us neurosurgeons, as the tumor has penetrated into normal brain cells and is very difficult to separate from normal tissue.

A neurosurgeon has to decide how much of a tumor is safe to remove without damaging the healthy brain, so they may sometimes recommend that some or all of the surgery be done while awake.

Unfortunately, due to this nature of GBM why some tumor cells are not completely removed, some will almost always be left behind and therefore continue to grow. Therefore, for the remaining parts, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the next treatment steps.

glioblastoma always fatal?

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common primary primary It is a type of malignant brain tumor. It is also the most aggressive and lethal. Less than 1% of all patients with glioblastoma live for more than ten years, so it is fatal in the majority of cases.

with glioblastoma ?

Life expectancy is extremely variable. The average survival time is extremely short - only 12-18 months. Only 25% of glioblastoma patients survive more than one year, and 5% of patients live more than five years.