WHAT IS A GLIOBLASTOMA AND HOW IS IT TREATED?

A glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly malignant tumor that forms from star-shaped cells called astrocytes that are responsible for forming supportive tissue in the brain. Glioblastomas often develop very quickly because a large network of blood vessels supports their growth. While GBMs are the most common and aggressive primary brain tumors (responsible for about 52% of all functional tissue brain tumor cases), their occurrence is still very uncommon, with only about 2-3 cases cited per 100,000 people in North America and Europe.

What are glioblastomas?
Glioblastomas are typically made-up of a variety of cell types, including calcium deposits, blood vessels, cystic minerals, or a mixture of different cell types. While GBMs are often located in the cerebral hemisphere, they have also been found in the spinal cord or other parts of the brain. It is very uncommon for glioblastomas to metastases – spread – to other parts of the body.

Symptoms or signs of a glioblastoma:
Symptoms of a glioblastoma don’t usually manifest until the tumor is large enough to cause pressure on the brain. Common symptoms include:

• Memory loss
• Personality changes
• Seizure
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Drowsiness
• Weakness one entire side of your body, called hemiparesis
• Speech difficulties
• Dystonia

Glioblastoma risk factors:
Like most tumors, there is no known cause of brain tumors like glioblastomas, however, some people believe there is a link between alcohol consumption, ionizing radiation, and the viruses HHV-6, SV40, and cytomegalovirus. More common risk factors include:

• Age, particularly for those over 50
• Gender, with a slight skew towards men than women.
• Being diagnosed with a low-grade astrocytoma (brain tumor), which can develop into a higher-grade tumor.
• If you are Caucasian, Hispanic, or asian.
• Having a diagnosis of neurofibromatosis, Von Hippel-Lindau disease, Turcot syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, or Li-Fraumeni syndrome

Glioblastoma treatment options:
Because glioblastomas contain a mixture of multiple cell types, it is not uncommon that several forms of treatment are required in order to take care of the entire tumor. Most glioblastomas require surgery to carefully eliminate as much of the tumor as possible, followed by immunotherapy to eradicate any tumor not removed by the surgery. Often surgery is performed through gamma knife radiosurgery, which uses non-invasive lasers to “cut away” at the tumor.

Newport Beach neurosurgeon, Dr. Christopher Duma, has been at the forefront of immunotherapy treatments for primary brain gliomas such as glioblastoma since the 1980s. He has helped treat many patients who have been diagnosed with a brain tumor. To learn more about treatment options for glioblastomas, call our office at 949-642-6787.