Glioblastoma State Of The Art And Future Perspectives

Glioblastoma is an aggressive incurable primary tumor of the central nervous system. Median overall survival is in the range of 1.5 years even in selected clinical trials populations. Many features contribute to this therapeutic challenge including high intratumoral and intertumoral heterogeneity, resistance to therapy, migration and invasion, immunosuppression. With the access of novel highthroughput technologies, significant progress has been made to understand molecular and immunological signatures underlying the pathology of glioblastoma. Clinical trial designs have shifted from investigating broad “one-for-all” treatment approaches to precision oncology designs. The collection of contributions in this book aim at providing researchers and clinicians an update on different aspects of glioblastoma, i.e. progress in basic, preclinical and clinical research.

Glioblastoma is an aggressive incurable primary tumor of the central nervous system. Median overall survival is in the range of 1.5 years even in selected clinical trials populations. Many features contribute to this therapeutic challenge including high intratumoral and intertumoral heterogeneity, resistance to therapy, migration and invasion, immunosuppression. With the access of novel highthroughput technologies, significant progress has been made to understand molecular and immunological signatures underlying the pathology of glioblastoma. Clinical trial designs have shifted from investigating broad “one-for-all” treatment approaches to precision oncology designs. The collection of contributions in this book aim at providing researchers and clinicians an update on different aspects of glioblastoma, i.e. progress in basic, preclinical and clinical research.

Neuroimaging plays a central role in the initial diagnosis and subsequent monitoring of multimodal therapies offered to patients with glioblastoma the most malignant type of brain cancer. The authors present a comprehensive description of current state-of-the-art clinical neuroimaging for glioblastoma. They cover the basic concepts and most recent applications of clinical structural neuroimaging, as well as the latest innovations and up-and-coming techniques for functional imaging of glioblastoma patients.Few comprehensive books are available in this challenging field of clinical medicine. The co-editors are experienced academic neuroradiologists with an active interest in clinical imaging and research of glioblastoma, all within a vibrant clinical environment at Stanford University where the latest innovations in glioblastoma imaging and treatment are being developed. In compiling this book, the co-editors have called upon many of the worlds best clinical and basic neuroscientists specializing in the management of patients with this malignancy, for their expert input on the latest imaging developments and applicable research into glioblastoma.This book is intended for neuroradiologists, neuro-oncologists, neurosurgeons, radiation therapists, and other physicians and scientists engaged in the study and clinical management of patients with glioblastoma. It should also serve as a unique educational and research resource for students and more experienced practitioners alike within this rapidly evolving field.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a common and aggressive brain cancer with features of necrosis and endothelial proliferation in the histopathologic examination. Its presentation and management depend on tumor location, size, grade, and underlying histopathological characteristics. GBM tumors have clinical features of increased intracranial pressure, focal neurological deficits, or seizures (generalized or partial) with rapid progression. This book discusses GBM and its diagnosis, treatment, and management.

This book describes the basics, the challenges and the limitations of state of the art brain tumor imaging and examines in detail its impact on diagnosis and treatment monitoring. It opens with an introduction to the clinically relevant physical principles of brain imaging. Since MR methodology plays a crucial role in brain imaging, the fundamental aspects of MR spectroscopy, MR perfusion and diffusion-weighted MR methods are described, focusing on the specific demands of brain tumor imaging. The potential and the limits of new imaging methodology are carefully addressed and compared to conventional MR imaging. In the main part of the book, the most important imaging criteria for the differential diagnosis of solid and necrotic brain tumors are delineated and illustrated in examples. A closing section is devoted to the use of MR methods for the monitoring of brain tumor therapy. The book is intended for radiologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, oncologists and other scientists in the biomedical field with an interest in neuro-oncology.