Molecular Pathology of Glioblastoma- An Update

Abstract

Glioblastoma, the most common primary brain malignancy, has piqued the interest of researchers for decades. As a result, it is one of the most studied brain malignancies. Advancement in technology in recent years has had a tremendous impact on the understanding of this dreaded disease. Deepening insight into its molecular pathology has brought about a paradigm shift in the knowledge of this disease. The WHO has made significant changes in the classification of glioblastoma with emphasis on the molecular changes, thus advocating a histomolecular diagnosis, as opposed to the purely histological diagnosis which was the gold standard until recently. The molecular diagnostics aid the decision making in the management of the disease. This chapter discusses the histomorphology of glioblastoma, new WHO classification of glioblastoma, recent molecular contributions of various research groups leading to changing concepts and also the less explored avenues like intra-tumor heterogeneity and tumor recurrence in glioblastoma.