Current medical treatment of glioblastoma

Abstract

Glioblastoma is the most common adult malignant primary brain tumor. Despite the advances in therapeutic options, survival of patients with glioblastoma remains dismal at 15-18 months. Current standard of care for newly diagnosed glioblastoma is maximal possible safe resection consistent with the preservation of neurologic function followed by concurrent temozolomide with radiation and adjuvant. Treatment options at recurrence include surgical resection with or without the placement of carmustine wafers, re-irradiation and chemotherapeutics such as nitrosoureas (lomustine, carmustine) or bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).