Glioblastoma
Glioblastoma is the most aggressive primary brain tumor in adults — and also one of the most actively researched cancers in oncology. Here is what you need to know about surgery, the Stupp protocol, and why every detail of care matters for the person facing this diagnosis.
What Is Glioblastoma?
Glioblastoma (GBM), WHO grade 4 IDH-wildtype astrocytoma, is the most common and most aggressive primary brain tumor in adults. Median age at diagnosis is 64. Median survival with maximal treatment is 14–16 months. Despite being deeply studied, GBM remains one of the hardest cancers to treat because of its infiltrative nature, the blood-brain barrier, and its extraordinary genetic heterogeneity.
Standard treatment — the Stupp protocol — involves maximal safe surgical resection, 6 weeks of concurrent radiation + temozolomide chemotherapy, then 6 months of adjuvant temozolomide. MGMT promoter methylation status is the most important biomarker predicting response.
At a Glance
- GBM is the most aggressive primary brain tumor in adults — median survival ~14-16 months with standard treatment
- Standard Stupp protocol: maximal safe resection → 6 weeks concurrent chemoradiation (temozolomide + RT) → 6 months adjuvant temozolomide
- MGMT promoter methylation predicts benefit from temozolomide — tested in every patient
- Maximal safe resection improves survival — every additional cm³ of tumor removed matters
- Tumor treating fields (TTFields, Optune) add ~3 months median survival vs. temozolomide alone (EF-14 trial)
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