Advances in treating glioblastoma

Abstract

Glioblastoma is the most common and most aggressive primary brain tumor in adults. Optimized standard treatment only confers amodest improvement in progression and overall survival, underscoring the pressing need for the development of novel therapies. Our understanding of glioblastoma (a molecularly heterogeneous disorder) has been accelerated in the setting of large scale genomic analyses, lending insight into potential actionable targets. Antiangiogenic therapies have been used in the treatment of glioblastoma, and our understanding of the means to optimize the role of these agents is continuing to evolve. Recently, immunotherapy has garnered increasing attention as a therapeutic approach in the treatment of gliomas. Promising novel approaches are under active development in the treatment of glioblastoma. © 2014 Faculty of 1000 Ltd.