Predictors of Long-Term Survival in Patients With Glioblastoma Multiforme: Advancements From the Last Quarter Century

Abstract

Over the last quarter century there has been significant progress toward identifying certain characteristics and patterns in GBM patients to predict survival times and outcomes. We sought to identify clinical predictors of survival in GBM patients from the past 24 years. We examined patient survival related to tumor locations, surgical treatment, postoperative course, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, patient age, GBM recurrence, imaging characteristics, serum, and molecular markers. We present predictors that may increase, decrease, or play no significant role in determining a GBM patient's long-term survival or affect the quality of life.

Textural analysis of pre-therapeutic [18F]-FET-PET and its correlation with tumor grade and patient survival in high-grade gliomas

“…Nevertheless, these are still invasive procedures and are also prone to sampling errors. The exploration of non-invasive surrogate markers for tumor grading and additional prognostic factors is thus of high clinical importance [5,6]. There have been numerous attempts in the past to employ imaging techniques for this purpose.…”

Prediction of Glioma Recurrence Using Dynamic18F-Fluoroethyltyrosine PET

“…Therefore additional prognostic factors that can be obtained noninvasively have been described or are being investigated. 5,6 Particularly, numerous attempts have been made to use imaging techniques for prognostic stratification. Contrast enhancement in CT and MR imaging indicates disruption of the BBB, which is suggestive of aggressive biologic behavior.…”

MicroRNA Expression Signatures Determine Prognosis and Survival in Glioblastoma Multiforme—a Systematic Overview

“…These factors have all been defined as indicators of patient survival and treatment outcome, but due to the sustained poor overall survival of GBM patients, new arrays of prognostic indicators have been requested to aid in the clinical decision making [1]. In recent years, several molecular biomarkers have been characterized including chromosomal aberrations, methylation status of the methyl guanine methyl transferase (MGMT) promoter, mutations in important genes (isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1), EGFR, and p53), and dysregulation of microRNAs [7]. Loss of heterozygosity in chromosomes 9p and 10q is associated with decreased survival, while co-deletion of 1p and 19q correlates with better treatment response and longer survival [7].…”

“…In recent years, several molecular biomarkers have been characterized including chromosomal aberrations, methylation status of the methyl guanine methyl transferase (MGMT) promoter, mutations in important genes (isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1), EGFR, and p53), and dysregulation of microRNAs [7]. Loss of heterozygosity in chromosomes 9p and 10q is associated with decreased survival, while co-deletion of 1p and 19q correlates with better treatment response and longer survival [7]. Hypermethylation of the MGMT promoter leads to lower expression levels of MGMT, which sensitizes GBM tumors to chemotherapeutic treatment and thus is associated with a significantly better patient outcome [8, 9].…”