How I treat glioblastoma in older patients

Glioblastoma, a WHO grade IV astrocytoma, is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults. It is characterized by molecular heterogeneity and aggressive behavior. Glioblastoma is almost always incurable and most older patients survive less than 6 months. Supportive care with steroids and anti-epileptic drugs is critical to improving and maintain quality of life. Young age, good performance status and methylation of the methyl guanyl methyl transferase promoter are important positive prognostic factors. Several recent clinical trials suggest that there is a subset of the elderly with prolonged survival that is comparable to younger patients. Treatment of glioblastoma in older patients includes maximal safe resection followed by either radiation, chemotherapy or combined modality therapy. Recent advances suggest that some patients can avoid radiation entirely and be treated with chemotherapy alone. Decisions about therapy are individual and based on a patient's performance status, family support and molecular features. Future work needs to better determine the role for comprehensive geriatric assessments in this patient population to better identify patients who may most benefit from aggressive therapies.