Treating glioblastoma in the elderly

The incidence of glioblastoma (GBM) is increasing among the elderly, who now account for up to half of all the adult cases of GBM. This trend has resulted in the recent development of clinical research specifically dedicated to this fragile population. Some studies have investigated surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy with temozolomide, and ongoing research is currently addressing the use of combined radiochemotherapy in this population. Although older patients with GBM have a significantly worse life expectancy compared with their younger counterparts, etiologic treatments should not be withheld from these patients solely because of their age. On the contrary, results from prospective studies suggest that active care of these patients has a significant positive impact on survival without affecting quality of life or cognition. To optimize both symptomatic and etiologic treatment, neuro-oncology multidisciplinary teams must take into account performance and cognitive status, the resectability of the tumor, and associated comorbidities.