Glioblastoma: why immunotherapy may offer hope for brain cancer patients

Glioblastoma, the deadliest brain cancer, may find hope in immunotherapy, offering potential for better outcomes for patients.

Glioblastoma is the most common and deadliest form of brain cancer. Patients face a bleak prognosis – the average survival after diagnosis is between 12 and 15 months. And just 6.9% of patients survive beyond five years, making it one of the most poorly survived cancers.

The toll this cancer takes goes beyond survival rates. Patients can suffer from symptoms like headaches, seizures, cognitive and personality changes, and neurological impairments. These symptoms may drastically affect their quality of life. But despite the urgent need, no targeted treatments exist for this devastating disease.

Researchers now believe that immunotherapy, which harnesses the immune system to target cancer cells, could be a turning point in the treatment of glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma is a naturally occurring tumour that belongs to a group of brain tumours called “gliomas” that originate and grow in the brain and spinal cord. Classified as a grade 4 tumour by the World Health Organization, glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer.

Globally, there are approximately 3.2 to 4.2 cases per 100,000 people annually. This translates to around 150,000 new cases each year worldwide.

Standard treatments for glioblastoma – like surgery, radiation and chemotherapy – are often only temporarily effective. The tumours are highly resistant to these treatments due to the cancer’s ability to suppress immune responses and the presence of the blood-brain barrier, which restricts most drugs from reaching the brain.

After surgery, the tumour often returns and can spread to other parts of the brain. This leads to further challenges for patients and doctors alike.