Glioblastoma multiforme, or GBM, is a type of brain tumor that is also known as a Grade 4 astrocytoma, according to Massachusetts General Hospital, or MGH. This classification means that it is a very malignant, aggressive type of brain tumor. GBMs require prompt treatment, and though treatments do not typically cure GBM, they do prolong survival and slow down progression of the tumor.
Surgery
According to the Mayo Clinic, surgery is the main type of treatment for GBMs, as long as no brain damage will occur if the tumor or part of it is removed. More often than not, according to them, complete removal is impossible due to the invasive nature of GBMs. Although the tumors typically grow back after resection, aggressive treatment can help delay regrowth and tumor progression, says MGH. The smaller the amount of tumor remaining after surgery, the better prognosis they have with subsequent treatments, according to doctors at MGH.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation rarely produces a cure for GBMs, but using it as part of treatment doubles the median survival time, says the Mayo Clinic. Radiation for GBMs is called fractionated radiation and is administered daily, five days a week, for five or six weeks. External beam radiation is typically used for this; this kind of radiation involves using a machine outside the body to aim the radiation at the cancerous area. The Mayo Clinic also describes another option of administering radiation called fractionalized stereotactic radiotherapy. This involves several small arcs of radiation being given to the cancerous area, rather than one larger dose. Side effects of radiation therapy can include fatigue, nausea, memory loss and irritability, according to the American Cancer Society; side effects may also vary depending on the size of the area being radiated.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy for GBMs involves treatment with the drug temozolomide, according to the Manual of Clinical Oncology. This drug is given concurrently with radiation therapy daily, and when radiation therapy ends, the drug is given for five consecutive days every four weeks for at least six cycles. Temozolomide is given intravenously over an infusion time of approximately 90 minutes, says the American Cancer Society. Common side effects of the medication listed by the American Cancer Society include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, appetite loss, fatigue, hair thinning or loss, low white and red blood cell counts, which can lead to anemia or increased risk of infection, and bruising under the skin.
