Current concepts and management of glioblastoma

Abstract

Glioblastoma is the most common malignant primary brain tumor in adults. Its often rapid clinical course, with many medical and psychosocial challenges, requires a multidisciplinary management. Modern multimodality treatment and care improve patients' life expectancy and quality of life. This review covers major aspects of care of glioblastoma patients with a focus on the management of common symptoms and complications. We aim to provide a guide for clinicians confronted with glioblastoma patients in their everyday practice.

A Multiscale Modeling Approach to Glioma Invasion with Therapy

“…Their treatment is still elusive, in spite of the development and diversification of the therapeutic approaches [48]. The differentiated response of tumor cell subpopulations to treatment and the infiltrative growth throughout the brain tissue [23,37,39] are two main causes for the lack of surgical, radio-and chemotherapeutical cure.…”

Uncertainty, mood states, and symptom distress in patients with primary brain tumors

“…Gliomas are the most common class of PBTs, and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and malignant type in adults. 1 Once diagnosed, the overall prognosis for patients remains poor, and their clinical course is complicated and unpredictable because of significant morbidity from both tumor-related neurologic and cognitive symptoms as well as treatment-related toxicity. 2 Uncertainty, defined as an individual's lack of ability to determine the meaning of illness-related events, 3 may pervade the whole illness trajectory of PBTs.…”

Pharmacists Perspective on Management of GBM

“…Brain edema: Dexamethasone is commonly used for the management of brain edema in patients with GBM or with other cancers that have metastasized to the brain [1,35]. Brain edema associated with GBM is usually of the vasogenic extracellular type, which is plasma leakage into the brain parenchyma due to increased brain capillary permeability and a pressure gradient.…”

“…Patients with GBM often receive dexamethasone for cerebral edema at diagnosis, postoperatively, at the time of radiation, and if the tumor progresses [1,35,36]. Management of edema can help alleviate associated headache, cognitive deficits, nausea/vomiting, and seizures.…”