GBM has an incidence of 3.21 per 100,000 population.
Glioblastoma (CMV-positive)
General Information
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a fast-growing and aggressive brain tumour that can result in death in six months or less, if untreated.
Median age of diagnosis is 64 years and it is more common in men as compared to women.
GBMs present unique treatment challenges due to the localisation of tumours in the brain, inherent resistance to conventional therapy, limited capacity of the brain to repair itself, migration of malignant cells into adjacent brain tissue and the variably disrupted tumour blood supply, which inhibits effective drug delivery.
Survival is poor with approximately 40% survival in the first-year post diagnosis and 17% in the second year.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis and treatment of glioblastoma, but among glioma patients with confirmed CMV infection, a low pathological positive rate was associated with better prognosis and longer survival.
Symptoms
Symptoms include: persistent headaches, double or blurred vision, loss of appetite, changes in ability to think and learn, speech difficulty of gradual onset.
Epidemiology
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