Advancing the Treatment of Malignant Gliomas (Glioblastoma) Video – Brigham and Women’s Hospital

E. Antonio Chiocca, MD, PhD, Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery and Co-Director of the Institute for the Neurosciences at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, describes the current standard of care for malignant gliomas (glioblastoma) and research of new treatments.

Malignant gliomas (glioblastomas) are a set of tumors that can arise anywhere in the brain. They grow by dividing and creating a mass, as well as infiltrating into normal brain tissue. They don’t metastasize to other parts of the body like other cancers.

The mainstay of treatment for malignant glioma (glioblastoma) is surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible. Advanced molecular testing of the tumor helps to determine the tumor type and the best course of treatment for the individual patient. Chemotherapy and radiation are often provided after surgery, and patients may be enrolled in a clinical trial evaluating a new therapy.

A promising new approach, called oncolytic virotherapy, involves the use of common viruses to treat malignant gliomas (glioblastoma). Studies of the herpes simplex virus type 1 have shown that the virus can effectively invade cells and destroy them, while also stimulating the immune system, creating a vaccine-like effect against the tumor.

Learn more about brain tumor treatment and research:

Read the Advancing Malignant Gliomas (Glioblastoma) Treatment video transcript:

[abhioldfort]

Has this helped in curing or prolonging the patients life? My brother is diagonised with stage -4 glioblastoma. Therefore any help on improving the life span is much appreciated and also it gives a great amount of hope/energy to pur family..