Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GB) is the most severe form of brain cancer, with a 12/15-month median survival. Although cell therapies for GB are on the near horizon, surgical resection, temozolomide (TMZ) and radiotherapy (RT) remain the primary therapeutic options for GB, and no new small-molecule therapies have been introduced in recent years. Despite advances of treatment for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), patient prognosis remains poor. There is growing evidence that molecular targeting may translate into better survival for GBM, however, current clinical data show limited impact on survival. The treatment of a brain glioma is still one of the most difficult challenges in oncology. Recent progress in GBM genomics implicate several activated pathways and numerous mutated genes. Glioblastoma’s intratumoral heterogeneity and invasive growth pattern present major challenges. This molecular diversity may partially explain therapeutic resistance, and several approaches have been postulated to target molecular changes.

A personalized approach, focusing on the unique molecular profile of each tumor, is gaining importance over universal treatments. This shift towards personalized therapy aims to address the fundamental differences between tumor and normal cells. The goal is to identify targetable tumor markers specific to individual cases, allowing the development of tailored therapeutic approaches.