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What Are All The Treatment Options For Glioblastoma?
A glioblastoma is a type of brain cancer that comes in the form of a malignant tumour, which originates in cells known as astrocytes that are located in the brain or spinal cord and goes on to attack healthy tissue as it grows. The condition is not curable, but there are treatment options that can reduce the symptoms and slow down the progress of tumour growth.
Several treatments exist at present and have been tried and tested, including the use of radiotherapy, while research has indicated there may be new treatments that can further improve the prospects for patients
However, it is important to note that until potential new treatments have been peer-reviewed and established as viable and do not pose any major downside risks, they will not be used except in medical trials. This is important to note because research is ongoing into treatment options for glioblastomas, just as it is for so many other forms of cancer
The use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in cancer is designed to kill cancer cells, chiefly by damaging their DNA so they cannot repair themselves. In this instance, Navtemadlin works as an inhibitor, which works by encouraging the growth of a protein called P3.
This controls cell growth, but also causes cell death in cells that have had their DNA damaged by chemotherapy, the research by Dana-Farber scientists found. Their work used tumour tissue after excision and found that the chemotherapy-Navtemadlin combination increased the rate of cell death.
It is important to bear in mind that this potential treatment, should it be proven effective in patient trials, might not become a common option for oncologists soon enough to benefit most current glioblastoma patients. However, it does highlight some of the issues that treatments for the condition seek to tackle.
The right combination of treatments for you will depend on the location of the tumour. For example, because a glioblastoma can originate in the spinal cord, there may be instances where surgery could end up causing damage that will impair the sending of signals between the brain and the rest of the body.
Similarly, surgery on the brain itself will depend on where exactly the tumour is located, with some areas being much easier and safer than others.
This is why in some cases the best form of surgery is not a physical knife but radiosurgery using a device like a gamma knife. This is designed to produce a beam of very intense radiation that is directed with great precision at the tumour while minimising exposure of the surrounding tissue.
The gamma knife was invented by Swedish scientist Lars Leksell in the 1960s and has been used in the UK since the 1980s, when the first UK unit was established in Sheffield. The device was originally used for functional neurological surgery (pain and movement disorders), but it soon became apparent that it could be effective in treating brain tumours.
Because these circumstances will change, the best treatment at any given time may change from what it was previously.
Further factors involved in deciding treatment options will include the patient’s age and general state of health.
Glioblastomas are, by definition, grade 4 tumours and there is at this point no cure. That may be something that arises from further research in time, but for now, the key priorities are to extend life and reduce symptoms, such as shrinking a tumour to prevent it from impairing the function of adjacent parts of the brain, or the spinal cord.
Extending life and adding quality of life is particularly important and something patients will value, as it can give them extra time to spend with loved ones, fulfil lifetime ambitions, or simply carry on doing the things they enjoy as long as possible.
In this process, we will always help patients stay informed and involved in the process of making treatment decisions.
Explore the Queen Square website to learn more about our advanced radiotherapy and neurosurgical treatments for glioblastoma.
Several treatments exist at present and have been tried and tested, including the use of radiotherapy, while research has indicated there may be new treatments that can further improve the prospects for patients
However, it is important to note that until potential new treatments have been peer-reviewed and established as viable and do not pose any major downside risks, they will not be used except in medical trials. This is important to note because research is ongoing into treatment options for glioblastomas, just as it is for so many other forms of cancer
A New Potential New Treatmen
For example, new research published in Science Translational Magazine has highlighted a promising possibility regarding the use of a substance called Navtemadlin in combination with chemotherapy.The use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in cancer is designed to kill cancer cells, chiefly by damaging their DNA so they cannot repair themselves. In this instance, Navtemadlin works as an inhibitor, which works by encouraging the growth of a protein called P3.
This controls cell growth, but also causes cell death in cells that have had their DNA damaged by chemotherapy, the research by Dana-Farber scientists found. Their work used tumour tissue after excision and found that the chemotherapy-Navtemadlin combination increased the rate of cell death.
It is important to bear in mind that this potential treatment, should it be proven effective in patient trials, might not become a common option for oncologists soon enough to benefit most current glioblastoma patients. However, it does highlight some of the issues that treatments for the condition seek to tackle.
The Main Current Treatments
At present, the main treatments for glioblastoma are chemotherapy, which uses chemicals that are toxic to the tumour, surgery, which involves invasive methods to remove tumours from the brain, and radiotherapy. There can also be therapies designed to manage the condition, which may be given as palliative care at late stages.The right combination of treatments for you will depend on the location of the tumour. For example, because a glioblastoma can originate in the spinal cord, there may be instances where surgery could end up causing damage that will impair the sending of signals between the brain and the rest of the body.
Similarly, surgery on the brain itself will depend on where exactly the tumour is located, with some areas being much easier and safer than others.
This is why in some cases the best form of surgery is not a physical knife but radiosurgery using a device like a gamma knife. This is designed to produce a beam of very intense radiation that is directed with great precision at the tumour while minimising exposure of the surrounding tissue.
The gamma knife was invented by Swedish scientist Lars Leksell in the 1960s and has been used in the UK since the 1980s, when the first UK unit was established in Sheffield. The device was originally used for functional neurological surgery (pain and movement disorders), but it soon became apparent that it could be effective in treating brain tumours.
Understanding Treatment Options
Other forms of radiotherapy are available and if you (or a family member) are a patient, our oncologists will be on hand to discuss the treatment options and how the location, size, advancement and other characteristics of the tumour will impact on the options.Because these circumstances will change, the best treatment at any given time may change from what it was previously.
Further factors involved in deciding treatment options will include the patient’s age and general state of health.
Glioblastomas are, by definition, grade 4 tumours and there is at this point no cure. That may be something that arises from further research in time, but for now, the key priorities are to extend life and reduce symptoms, such as shrinking a tumour to prevent it from impairing the function of adjacent parts of the brain, or the spinal cord.
Extending life and adding quality of life is particularly important and something patients will value, as it can give them extra time to spend with loved ones, fulfil lifetime ambitions, or simply carry on doing the things they enjoy as long as possible.
In this process, we will always help patients stay informed and involved in the process of making treatment decisions.
Explore the Queen Square website to learn more about our advanced radiotherapy and neurosurgical treatments for glioblastoma.
