PREOPERATIVE radiotherapy may significantly enhance survival rates for glioblastoma, a particularly aggressive brain cancer. This is according to the results of a new study by researchers at the Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida. Traditionally, treatment has involved surgical tumor removal followed by postoperative radiation and chemotherapy. However, this regimen has yielded a median survival of just under 15 months, largely due to incomplete tumor elimination and rapid recurrence.
The study focused on a preclinical glioblastoma model. Findings indicated that administering a radiation boost prior to surgery led to improved survival outcomes compared to the standard postoperative approach. This innovative strategy not only enhances survival but also alters the tumor microenvironment encouraging cancer-fighting cells to mobilize and inducing cellular senescence in tumor cells.
Paula Schiapparelli, a senior author of the study and Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at Mayo Clinic, emphasized the implications of these findings: “Our research challenges the conventional treatment sequence and suggests a potentially more effective strategy for managing glioblastoma.” The insights gained from this study could pave the way for new therapeutic protocols aimed at tackling this challenging malignancy.
First author and Postdoctoral Fellow at Mayo Clinic, Beatriz Fernandez-Gil noted that while these results are promising, further laboratory studies and clinical trials are essential to validate the efficacy of this approach. Future research will explore stereotactic radiosurgery prior to tumor removal, followed by the standard radiotherapy regimen, potentially revolutionizing the treatment landscape for glioblastoma patients.
As the medical community continues to grapple with the complexities of glioblastoma, these findings offer hope for improved outcomes in a disease notorious for its aggressive nature and poor prognosis.
Reference: Fernandez-Gil B et al. Effects of PreOperative radiotherapy in a preclinical glioblastoma model: a paradigm-shift approach. 2024;169:633-46.
Anaya Malik | AMJ
