Glioblastoma Treatment

Glioblastomas are tumors that arise from astrocytes, which are the star-shaped cells that make up the supportive tissue of the brain. These tumors are usually highly malignant (cancerous) because the cells reproduce quickly and because glioblastomas are supported by a large network of blood vessels. In addition, because gliblastomas have finger-like tentacles, they are very difficult to completely remove surgically, especially when they grow near parts of the brain that control important functions.

Glioblastomas can be difficult to treat because the tumors contain many different types of cells, some of which may respond well to certain therapies, while others do not. Therefore, glioblastoma treatment may combine several different approaches, including:

• Surgery, which is done to relieve pressure on the brain and safely remove as much of the tumor as possible
• Chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy may be used to slow the growth of tumors that cannot be removed with surgery
• Stereotactic radiotherapy is an advanced technique that uses highly focused x-ray beams to administer a large dose of radiation directly at tumor cells
• Medications may include steroids to treat and prevent swelling of brain tissue, anti-seizure medication to treat and prevent seizures, and antibiotics to prevent and treat infection

Newer glioblastoma treatment approaches include targeted therapy, or drugs that target the growth pathways of glioblastomas. Combinations of these drugs in a "cocktail" may be used to block several growth pathways at once. Other targeted therapies used in glioblastoma treatment act to prevent the growth of blood vessels that support tumors, essentially starving them.

The Brain Tumor Center at Brigham and Women's Hospital offers compassionate and state-of-the-art glioblastoma treatment as well as treatment to manage the neurologic complications of the tumors and their treatment.

Learn more about glioblastoma treatment at Brigham and Women's Hospital.