Glioblastoma multiforme medical therapy
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
The predominant therapy for glioblastoma multiforme is surgical resection. Adjunctive chemotherapy and radiation may be required.[1] Supportive therapy for glioblastoma multiforme includes anticonvulsants and corticosteroids.
Medical Therapy
The predominant therapy for glioblastoma multiforme is surgical resection. Adjunctive chemotherapy and radiation may be required.[1]
Radiotherapy
- After surgery, radiotherapy is recommended among all patients who develop glioblastoma multiforme.
- Adjuvant radiotherapy can reduce the tumor size to 107 cells.
- Radiotherapy may not cure the cancer, but can control the tumor and delay recurrence.
- Targeted three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy is preferred to whole brain radiotherapy.
- Total radiation dose of 60–65 Gy has been found to be optimal for treatment.
Chemotherapy
- Chemotherapy is indicated as adjuvant therapy for glioblastoma multiforme.
- Temozolomide (Temodar) is the preferred drug for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme.
- Other chemotherapeutic drugs that may be used for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme include:
Supportive treatment
Supportive therapy for glioblastoma multiforme includes anticonvulsants and corticosteroids, which focuses on relieving symptoms and improving the patient’s neurologic function.
- Anticonvulsants are administered to the patients who have a seizure. Phenytoin given concurrently with radiation may have serious skin reactions such as erythema multiforme and Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
- Corticosteroids, usually dexamethasone given 4-10 mg every 4-6 h, can reduce peritumoral edema, diminish mass effect, and lower intracranial pressure with a decrease in headache or drowsiness.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Treatment of glioblastoma multiforme. Dr Dylan Kurda and Dr Frank Gaillard et al. Radiopaedia 2015. http://radiopaedia.org/articles/glioblastoma