International Variations in Glioblastoma Management: A Comprehensive Review
By
Reuben Christopher
Livia Stauner
Mathias Spendel
Arwin Rezai
Alexander Romagna
Christoph Schwartz
March 27, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: International Variations in Glioblastoma Management: A Comprehensive Review
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Glioblastoma (GBM) Key Mechanisms Maximal safe surgical resection, radiotherapy, and concurrent/adjuvant temozolomide chemotherapy. Target Population Adult patients diagnosed with glioblastoma. Care Setting Multidisciplinary treatment involving neurosurgeons, neurooncologists, psycho-oncologists, and radiation oncologists.
Key Highlights
GBM is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults. Median overall survival remains 15–17 months post-diagnosis. Stupp protocol is the gold standard for GBM treatment. Over 50% of patients experience tumor recurrence within seven months of treatment. Cost-effectiveness of GBM interventions varies globally. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Utilize neuropathological diagnoses through molecular testing. Management
Implement the Stupp protocol consisting of surgical resection, radiotherapy, and temozolomide chemotherapy. Monitoring & Follow-up
Assess tumor recurrence and overall survival regularly. Risks
High financial burden and resource intensity associated with GBM treatment. Patient & Prescribing Data
Adults diagnosed with glioblastoma since 2005.
Modern management includes the use of 5-ALA and tumor treating fields (TTF) to improve survival.
Clinical Best Practices
Adopt a multidisciplinary approach for GBM management. Standardize cost evaluations to ensure comparability across studies. Utilize economic models to assess cost-effectiveness of interventions. References
