Beyond The Tumor: A Review of Standard Procedures and Emerging Advancements in Treatments for Glioblastomas

Abstract

Glioblastomas are a type of brain tumor, which–according to the Glioblastoma Research Organization–affects more than 241,000 people across the globe. While the causes of glioblastomas are largely unknown, research has shown that some glioblastomas arise likely due to genetic factors such as mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) gene or a 9p/13q deletion. Glioblastomas are extremely hard to treat because they rapidly proliferate, and spread into nearby brain tissues. Surgery has long been used to remove glioblastomas, in order to minimize the intracranial pressure due to the growth of tumor and to reduce tumor bulk for other therapies. However, surgical removal has been tough, since it is very hard to remove all the cancerous cells, and there is a high chance of tumor recurrence. In 2005, the FDA approved the drug temozolomide to be used in glioblastoma treatment following surgical removal. However, temozolomide is minimally effective and causes adverse effects in many patients. As of now, there is no real cure for glioblastoma. Therefore, there is a need to explore new treatments in order to increase the lifespan of glioblastoma patients, as well as to reduce unwarranted effects due to treatment. Newer treatments such as tumor treating fields and nanobots have shown to be promising for glioblastoma treatments. These new advancements have shown to be more precise, which reduces the concern of toxicity to healthy tissues. By researching various treatments for glioblastomas, this paper’s main goal is to explore alternative ways to treat glioblastomas effectively.