High-grade glioma/glioblastoma multiforme: is there a role for photodynamic therapy?

In the United States, the 5-year survival rate for patients of all ages with all types of brain tumors is approximately 20%, with the scale skewed toward even poorer survival in patients with gliomas. Although surgery and radiotherapy are primary treatment options, surgery is rarely curative and radiotherapy has had little impact on overall survival. Predominantly studied in adults with advanced high-grade gliomas, photodynamic therapy (PDT) represents a paradigmatic shift in the treatment of brain tumors. With no clear standard of care for brain tumors, PDT may emerge as a potential alternative, although challenges regarding its clinical use remain and studies confirming its promise are necessary.