The concurrence of multiple sclerosis and glioblastoma

Abstract

Introduction: Glioblastoma rarely coincides with multiple sclerosis. Although registries have reported a higher proportion of brain tumors-most of which are glial-these events appear to be underreported. The relative contribution of JC virus (an oncogenic virus) and disease modifying therapies that may facilitate JC virus neurotropism and tumor-specific immune evasion remain unknown.

Case report: We present the case of a 64-year-old woman who developed a primary glioblastoma eight years after diagnosis of multiple sclerosis while on dimethyl fumarate.

Conclusion: Systematic reporting may help answer whether JC virus seropositivity and certain disease modifying therapies confer higher risk for glioblastoma in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Keywords: Dimethyl fumarate; Glioblastoma; Histopathology; JC virus; Multiple sclerosis; Pharmacovigilance.