CONTEMPORARY AND EMERGING TREATMENT STRATEGIES FOR GLIOBLASTOMA: INTEGRATION OF SURGICAL, LOCAL, AND MOLECULAR APPROACHES

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5639

Keywords:

GBM, Glioblastoma Multiforme, Neurosurgery, Oncology, PET, Chemotherapy

Abstract

Glioblastoma is the most common and most aggressive primary malignant tumor of the central nervous system in adults and remains associated with a very poor prognosis despite multimodal treatment. The current standard of care consists of maximal safe surgical resection followed by radiotherapy and temozolomide-based chemotherapy; however, the effectiveness of this strategy is limited by marked tumor heterogeneity, the infiltrative growth pattern, the presence of the blood–brain barrier, and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. The aim of this paper is to review current standards of GBM treatment as well as emerging therapeutic strategies under development. Analysis of the available evidence indicates that novel approaches such as intraoperative 18F-FET PET, intraoperative radiotherapy, local temozolomide delivery using hydrogel-based systems, intranasal drug administration, NanoTherm® therapy, and CAR-T immunotherapy may increase treatment precision, improve local tumor control, and partially overcome the limitations of systemic therapy. However, most of these methods remain investigational or experimental, and their actual impact on overall survival requires further validation. The integration of advanced imaging, local treatment modalities, and molecularly targeted therapies appears to be the most promising direction for future GBM management.

References

Jassem, J., Potemski, P., & Kordek, R. (Eds.). (2019). Onkologia: Podręcznik dla studentów i lekarzy (5th ed.). Via Medica.

Bigos, E., Spych, M., Masłowski, M., Gottwald, L., & Fijuth, J. (2014). Glejak wielopostaciowy mózgu – problem coraz bardziej aktualny. Medycyna Paliatywna, 6.

Barker, C. A., Chang, M., Chou, J. F., Zhang, Z., Beal, K., & Omuro, A. M. (2012). Radiotherapy and concomitant temozolomide may improve survival of elderly patients with glioblastoma. Journal of Neuro-Oncology, 109, 391–397. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-012-0910-4

Hegi, M. E., Liu, L., Herman, J. G., Stupp, R., Wick, W., Weller, M., Mehta, M. P., & Gilbert, M. R. (2008). Correlation of O6-methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation with clinical outcomes in glioblastoma and clinical strategies to modulate MGMT activity. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 26, 4689–4699. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2008.16.0145

Laperriere, N., Zuraw, L., & Cairncross, G. (2002). Radiotherapy for newly diagnosed malignant glioma in adults: A systematic review. Radiotherapy and Oncology, 64, 259–273.

Stupp, R., Mason, W. P., van den Bent, M. J., Weller, M., Fisher, B., Taphoorn, M. J. B., Belanger, K., Brandes, A. A., Marosi, C., Bogdahn, U., Curschmann, J., Janzer, R. C., Ludwin, S. K., Gorlia, T., Allgeier, A., Lacombe, D., Cairncross, J. G., Eisenhauer, E., & Mirimanoff, R. O. (2005). Radiotherapy plus concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide for glioblastoma. New England Journal of Medicine, 352(10), 987–996. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa043330

Weller, M., van den Bent, M., Preusser, M., Le Rhun, E., Tonn, J. C., Minniti, G., Bendszus, M., Balana, C., Chinot, O., Dirven, L., French, P., Hegi, M., Jakola, A. S., Platten, M., Roth, P., Rudà, R., Smits, M., Taphoorn, M. J. B., von Deimling, A., & Wick, W. (2021). EANO guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of diffuse gliomas of adulthood. The Lancet Oncology, 22(8), e318–e336. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00239-5

Vaz-Salgado, M. A., Villamayor, M., Albarrán, V., Alía, V., Sotoca, P., Chamorro, J., Rosero, D., Barril, A. M., Martín, M., Fernandez, E., Gutierrez, J. A., Rojas-Medina, L. M., & Ley, L. (2023). Recurrent glioblastoma: A review of the treatment options. Cancers, 15(17), Article 4279. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15174279

van Opijnen, M. P., Nabuurs, R. J. A., de Vos, F. Y. F., Ramsoedh, M. T. R., Verhoeff, J. J. C., Geurts, M., & Broekman, M. L. D. (2024). Recurrent glioblastoma in national guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of gliomas: A matter of European practice variation. Brain and Spine, 4, Article 103923. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bas.2024.103923

Bruno, F., Pellerino, A., Pronello, E., Palmiero, R., Polo, V., Vitaliani, R., Trincia, E., Internò, V., Porta, C., Soffietti, R., & Rudà, R. (2021). Regorafenib in recurrent glioblastoma patients: A multicentric real-life study. Neuro-Oncology, 23(Suppl. 6), vi158. https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noab196.640

Tünbekici, S., Yuksel, H. Ç., Acar, C., Sahin, G., Orman, S., Majidova, N., Coskun, A., Seyyar, M., Dilek, M. S., Kara, M., Dıslı, A. K., Demir, T., Kolkıran, N., Sahbazlar, M., Demırcıler, E., Kuş, F., Aytac, A., Menekse, S., Yucel, H., Biter, S., Koseci, T., Unsal, A., Ozveren, A., Sevınc, A., Goker, E., & Gürsoy, P. (2024). Regorafenib treatment for recurrent glioblastoma beyond bevacizumab-based therapy: A large, multicenter, real-life study. Cancers, 17(1), Article 46. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17010046

Pauleit, D., Floeth, F., Hamacher, K., Riemenschneider, M. J., Reifenberger, G., Müller, H. W., & Zilles, K. (2005). O-(2-[18F]fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine PET combined with MRI improves the diagnostic assessment of cerebral gliomas. Brain, 128(3), 678–687. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awh399

Vettermann, F. J., Suchorska, B., Unterrainer, M., Wenter, V., Schmid-Tannwald, C., Niyazi, M., Bartenstein, P., Tonn, J. C., & Albert, N. L. (2021). L-type amino acid transporter (LAT1) expression in 18F-FET-positive and -negative gliomas. EJNMMI Research, 11, Article 119. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13550-021-00865-9

Dunet, V., Rossier, C., Buck, A., Stupp, R., & Prior, J. O. (2015). Performance of 18F-FET PET for the differential diagnosis of primary brain tumors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuro-Oncology, 18(3), 426–434. https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/nov148

Law, I., Albert, N. L., Arbizu, J., Boellaard, R., Drzezga, A., Galldiks, N., La Fougère, C., Langen, K. J., Lopci, E., Lowe, V. J., & Weller, M. (2019). Joint EANM/EANO/RANO practice guidelines for the use of PET imaging in gliomas. European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, 46, 540–557. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-018-4207-9

Grosu, A. L., Weber, W. A., Franz, M., Stärk, S., Piert, M., Thamm, R., Gumprecht, H., Schwaiger, M., & Molls, M. (2005). Reirradiation of recurrent high-grade gliomas using amino acid PET for target definition. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, 63(2), 511–519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2005.03.035

Galldiks, N., Langen, K. J., Holy, R., Pinkawa, M., Stoffels, G., Nolte, K. W., & Langen, K. J. (2017). The use of amino acid PET in gliomas: Current status and future directions. Neuro-Oncology, 19(3), 322–332. https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/now162

Combs, S. E., Edler, L., Rieken, S., Habermehl, D., Kessel, K., Debus, J., & Herfarth, K. (2013). Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) in patients with glioblastoma multiforme. Strahlentherapie und Onkologie, 189(12), 1007–1013. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00066-013-0454-0

Giordano, F. A., Brehmer, S., Mürle, B., Welzel, G., Sperk, E., Keller, A., & Wenz, F. (2019). Intraoperative radiotherapy in glioblastoma: A systematic review. Radiation Oncology, 14, Article 135. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13014-019-1343-1

ClinicalTrials.gov. (2023). Intraoperative radiotherapy with low-energy x-rays as a boost during surgical resection of newly diagnosed glioblastoma (INTRAGO II). https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02685605

Krajcer, A., Hinz, A., Bzowska, M., Stankiewicz, S., Słomka, J., Horak, W., Grzywna, E., & Lewandowska-Łancucka, J. (2025). Hydrogel-based implantable system for local delivery of temozolomide in postsurgical brain cancer therapy. Chemical Engineering Journal. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.164175

van Tellingen, O., Yetkin-Arik, B., de Gooijer, M. C., Wesseling, P., Wurdinger, T., & de Vries, H. E. (2015). Overcoming the blood–brain tumor barrier for effective glioblastoma treatment. Drug Resistance Updates, 19, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drup.2015.02.002

Upadhyayula, P. S., Spinazzi, E. F., Argenziano, M. G., Canoll, P., & Bruce, J. N. (2017). Biomaterials for the treatment of glioblastoma. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 114, 130–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2017.04.008

Westphal, M., Hilt, D. C., Bortey, E., Delavault, P., Olivares, R., Warnke, P. C., Whittle, I. R., Jääskeläinen, J., & Ram, Z. (2003). A phase 3 trial of local chemotherapy with biodegradable carmustine (BCNU) wafers in patients with primary malignant glioma. Neuro-Oncology, 5(2), 79–88. https://doi.org/10.1215/S1152851702000355

Zhang, Y. D., Dai, R. Y., Li, Q., Yu, X., Chen, X., & Chen, Y. (2014). Efficacy and safety of carmustine wafers in the treatment of glioma: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Neuro-Oncology, 118(2), 223–231. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-014-1416-9

Bastiancich, C., Danhier, F., & Préat, V. (2016). Drug-loaded nanoparticles for glioblastoma therapy: A review. Journal of Controlled Release, 243, 29–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.09.031

Lochhead, J. J., & Thorne, R. G. (2012). Intranasal delivery of biologics to the central nervous system. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 64(7), 614–628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2011.11.002

Li, Y., Wang, X., Wang, H., Wang, Y., Chen, Q., & Zhang, Z. (2014). Intranasal administration of temozolomide suppresses glioma growth in rats. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 21(8), 1439–1444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocn.2013.10.020

Maier-Hauff, K., Ulrich, F., Nestler, D., Niehoff, H., Wust, P., Thiesen, B., Orawa, H., Budach, V., & Jordan, A. (2011). Efficacy and safety of intratumoral thermotherapy using magnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles combined with external beam radiotherapy on patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. Journal of Neuro-Oncology, 103, 317–324. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-010-0389-0

Grzegorzewski, J., Michalak, M., Wołoszczuk, M., Bulicz, M., & Majchrzak-Celińska, A. (2025). Nanotherapy of glioblastoma—Where hope grows. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(5), Article 1814. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26051814

Chrzanowska, E. G., Kuźniar, J. P., Szlążek, J., Ząbek, A. J., Zagalska, M., Turek, M., Tamborski, T., Roguska, B., & Kuźniar, M. (2025). Nanotechnology in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme: Enhancing radiotherapy and chemotherapy with nanoparticles. Journal of Education, Health and Sport, 80, Article 60160. https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2025.80.60160

Pulvirenti, L., Monforte, F., Lo Presti, F., Li Volti, G., Carota, G., Sinatra, F., & Campisi, A. (2022). Synthesis of MIL-modified Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles for enhancing uptake and efficiency of temozolomide in glioblastoma treatment. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(5), Article 2874. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23052874

Brown, C. E., Alizadeh, D., Starr, R., Weng, L., Wagner, J. R., Naranjo, A., Ostberg, J. R., Blanchard, M. S., Kilpatrick, J., Simpson, J., Kurien, A., Priceman, S. J., Wang, X., Harsh, G. R., Forman, S. J., & Jensen, M. C. (2016). Regression of glioblastoma after chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. New England Journal of Medicine, 375(26), 2561–2569. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1610497

O’Rourke, D. M., Nasrallah, M. P., Desai, A., Melenhorst, J. J., Mansfield, K., Morrissette, J. J. D., Martinez-Lage, M., Brem, S., Maloney, E., Shen, A., Isaacs, R., Mohan, S., Plesa, G., Lacey, S. F., Navenot, J.-M., Zheng, Z., Levine, B. L., Okada, H., June, C. H., & Maus, M. V. (2017). A single dose of peripherally infused EGFRvIII-directed CAR T cells mediates antigen loss and induces adaptive resistance in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. Science Translational Medicine, 9(399), Article eaaa0984. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.aaa0984

Downloads

Published

2026-06-22

How to Cite

Jaruga, P., Jachimczak , E. ., Gąsiorowska, V. ., Grodkowska-Szukała, K., Paczyna, J. ., Wojtanowska, E. ., Kozicka, J. ., Mazur, M. ., Michalak, . M. ., & Smyczyńska, N. . (2026). CONTEMPORARY AND EMERGING TREATMENT STRATEGIES FOR GLIOBLASTOMA: INTEGRATION OF SURGICAL, LOCAL, AND MOLECULAR APPROACHES. International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science, 3(2(50). https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5639

Most read articles by the same author(s)