Glioblastoma is the most lethal primary central nervous system cancer. Part of the reason the tumor is so deadly is because it is hard to treat. The tumor itself is invasive and aggressive – it develops tentacles that invade other areas. This makes it hard to completely remove with surgery.
Part of the reason why glioblastomas are so deadly is that they arise from a type of brain cell called astrocytes. These cells are shaped like a star, so when the tumors form they develop tentacles, which makes them difficult to remove surgically. Additionally, the tumors advance rapidly.
The answer is cancer stem cells. Glioblastoma tumors make their own stem cells, with multiple avenues through which they can cultivate blood vessels — like a farmer that grows more than one crop.
In most cases, the exact underlying cause of glioblastoma multiforme is unknown. In rare cases, it can occur in people with certain genetic syndromes, such as neurofibromatosis type 1, Turcot syndrome and Li Fraumeni syndrome.
Signs Of Approaching Death From Glioblastoma
Drowsiness, confusion, persistent headache, nausea, vomiting, vision changes, loss of appetite, and other symptoms of end-stage brain cancer can occur.
Glioblastoma is the most lethal primary central nervous system cancer. Part of the reason the tumor is so deadly is because it is hard to treat. The tumor itself is invasive and aggressive – it develops tentacles that invade other areas. This makes it hard to completely remove with surgery.
If you have a glioblastoma headache, you will likely start experiencing pain shortly after waking up. The pain is persistent and tends to get worse whenever you cough, change positions or exercise. You may also experience throbbing—although this depends on where the tumor is located—as well as vomiting.
Recurrence occurs in almost every case. But the tide to conquer the disease is slowly turning. While the median survival rate is counted in months, there are survivors who have lived in remission for years, some for more than a decade.
People who have undergone radiation therapy as a treatment for leukemia, fungal infections of the scalp or previous cancers of the brain have an elevated risk of developing glioblastoma. Other risk factors include being male, being 50 years of age or older and having chromosomal abnormalities on chromosome 10 or 17.
Glioblastoma has an incidence of 3.21 per 100,000 population. Median age of diagnosis is 64 years and it is more common in men as compared to women. Survival is poor with approximately 40% survival in the first year post diagnosis and 17% in the second year.
In the final stages of the disease, the patient's body will begin to shut down. Patients may lose the ability to speak, eat, and move. They may also suffer from seizures, hallucinations, or changes in breathing pattern. The skin may take on a bluish tint, and the patient may become increasingly lethargic.
According to the National Brain Tumor Society, the average survival of glioblastoma patients is eight months after diagnosis; only 6.8% are alive after five years. Most gliomas are sporadic and seem to have no clear genetic cause. Only about 5% of gliomas are familial, afflicting two or more members of the same family.
Sudden death from an undiagnosed primary intracranial neoplasm is an exceptionally rare event, with reported frequencies in the range of 0.02% to 2.1% in medico-legal autopsy series and only 12% of all cases of sudden, unexpected death due to primary intracranial tumors are due to glioblastomas.
Long-Term Glioblastoma Survival
The voices of long-term survivors are often less widely heard. Although the average life expectancy after diagnosis is 14 to 16 months, approximately 1% of patients survive at least 10 years. Currently, the longest anyone has survived a glioblastoma is more than 20 years and counting.
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a fast-growing, aggressive brain cancer. In the final stages of the disease, end-of-life signs may become more apparent. These can include decreased appetite, withdrawal, changes in behavior, increased fatigue, difficulty speaking or swallowing, and labored breathing.
Like stages, brain cancer grades range from 1 to 4. The higher the grade, the more aggressive the cancer. However, glioblastomas are always classified as grade 4 brain cancer. That's because this type of cancer is an aggressive form of astrocytoma.
There are no studies with conclusive evidence to say that stress causes glioblastoma or any other type of glioma. However, we do know that overwhelming amounts of stress can reduce immune system function (the part of your body that fights off disease and tumors).
Men have a slightly higher risk, but the disease affects all ages and genders. These factors may increase your risk: Exposure to chemicals, such as pesticides, petroleum, synthetic rubber and vinyl chloride.
Results were consistent when examining cumulative average, baseline, and recent intake, and with a 4 year lag. Conclusion These results provide evidence against a positive association between alcohol intake and glioma risk.
“The thing that is deadly about this disease is that it diffusely invades the brain. Unlike tumors elsewhere in the body, you can't cut it all out,” said Ryan Miller, M.D., Ph. D., a neuropathologist and an associate professor at the UNC School of Medicine and member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Columbia researchers led a clinical trial of selinexor, the first of a new class of anti-cancer drugs, which was able to shrink tumors in almost a third of patients with recurrent glioblastoma. The results of the international phase 2 trial were published in the January 10, 2022, issue of Clinical Cancer Research.
Despite the advancements, median survival, especially for Grade 4 gliomas and for glioblastomas doesn't exceed 12–18 months from diagnosis. A very small percentage of cases showed >3 years survival, in other words long-survival.
Known medically as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the cancer has also claimed the lives of senators Ted Kennedy and John McCain, actors Robert Forster and Tim Conway, as well as Beau Biden. About 14,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with glioblastoma each year, according to the American Cancer Society.
The personality changes often encountered by people with glioblastoma include: Intense anger and irritation. Emotional ups and downs. Hostile, aggressive behavior.
Headaches: These are often the first symptoms of glioblastoma. Brain tumor headaches can differ from normal headaches. They typically become more frequent over time and may not respond to over-the-counter pain medicine.