Glioblastoma Survival Rate

What is glioblastoma?

Glioblastoma is a highly malignant brain tumor that arises from astrocytes, which are star-shaped cells that support nerve cells in the brain. It is the most common primary brain tumor in adults, accounting for approximately 50% of all cases [¹]. Unfortunately, glioblastoma has a poor prognosis, and the survival rate for patients with this condition is low.

This article will share information about glioblastoma survival rate and prognosis and provide relevant information about specific types of glioblastomas, glioblastoma diagnosis and staging, ICD-10 codes, and treatment options to help you understand the various factors that influence survival rate.

Types of glioblastoma

There are two types of glioblastoma, which are classified based on their genetic and molecular characteristics [²]:

Primary Glioblastoma: This is the most common type of glioblastoma, accounting for approximately 90% of cases. Primary glioblastoma typically arises de novo, meaning it develops independently without any prior history of a lower-grade tumor. It is more aggressive and grows more quickly than secondary glioblastoma.
Secondary Glioblastoma: This type of glioblastoma is less common, accounting for approximately 10% of cases. Secondary glioblastoma develops from a lower-grade tumor, such as an astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma, that has progressed to a higher grade over time. It typically occurs in younger patients and has a better prognosis than primary glioblastoma.

What are the signs and symptoms of glioblastoma?

The signs and symptoms of glioblastoma can vary depending on the location and size of the tumor, as well as the extent of its growth. Some common signs and symptoms of glioblastoma include [³]:

Headaches
Seizures
Cognitive changes
Weakness or numbness
Vision changes
Personality changes

It is important to note that other conditions can also cause these symptoms, and not all people with glioblastoma will experience all of these symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms, seeing a healthcare professional for evaluation and diagnosis is important. Early detection and treatment of glioblastoma can improve patients' outcomes and quality of life.

Glioblastoma diagnosis and staging

How is glioblastoma diagnosed?

The diagnosis of glioblastoma usually involves a combination of different diagnostic tests, including [⁴]:

Medical history and physical examination: The healthcare professional will begin by taking a detailed medical history and performing a physical examination to assess the patient's symptoms and overall health.
Imaging tests: Imaging tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans are used to visualize the brain and detect any abnormalities, such as a tumor. These tests can help determine the tumor's location, size, and extent.
Biopsy: A biopsy involves removing a small tissue sample from the tumor to confirm the diagnosis of glioblastoma. This procedure is usually done using a stereotactic biopsy, which involves imaging guidance to target the tumor and obtain a tissue sample. The tissue sample is then examined under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis and determine the tumor's molecular characteristics.

Glioblastoma staging

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code for glioblastoma is C71.9 [⁵]. This code falls under the category of "Malignant neoplasm of brain" in the ICD-10 diagnosis codes list and specifically refers to a malignant neoplasm of the brain known as a glioblastoma. It is important to note that healthcare professionals use the glioblastoma ICD-10 code to identify and classify the disease for billing and data purposes.

There are two staging systems for glioblastoma: the World Health Organization (WHO) classification and the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system.

The WHO classification of glioblastoma is based on the molecular characteristics of the tumor, which include the presence of mutations in certain genes, such as the IDH1 and IDH2 genes [⁶]. This classification system divides glioblastoma into four subtypes [⁷]:

Classical: This subtype accounts for approximately 50% of glioblastomas and is characterized by mutations in the EGFR gene.
Mesenchymal: This subtype accounts for approximately 15% of glioblastomas and is characterized by mutations in the NF1 gene [⁸].
Proneural: This subtype accounts for approximately 20% of glioblastomas and is characterized by mutations in the IDH1 or IDH2 gene [⁹].
Neural: This subtype accounts for approximately 10% of glioblastomas and is characterized by a more differentiated state.

The AJCC staging system for glioblastoma is based on the size and location of the tumor, as well as the degree of its spread. This system divides glioblastoma into four stages [¹⁰]:

Stage I: The tumor is localized to one brain area and can be completely removed with surgery.
Stage II: The tumor has begun to spread beyond its original location and cannot be completely removed with surgery.
Stage III: The tumor has spread to other parts of the brain and is difficult to treat with surgery or radiation.
Stage IV: The tumor has spread to other body parts and is often fatal.

Is glioblastoma hereditary?

Glioblastoma is generally not considered a hereditary disease. In most cases, it occurs sporadically, meaning it develops without any known cause or family history. However, some rare genetic syndromes can increase the risk of developing glioblastomas, such as neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), Li-Fraumeni syndrome, and Turcot syndrome [¹¹]. These syndromes are caused by specific genetic mutations passed down from parent to child.

Glioblastoma survival rates

The prognosis for glioblastoma usually considers two separate metrics: survival rate and quality of life (QOL). Doctors and researchers typically define survival rate in terms of the five-year survival rate, which indicates the percentage of patients alive five years after their diagnosis. The survival rate for glioblastoma is highly dependent on the stage of the disease, including tumor size and extent of metastasis, as well as on the patient's underlying health status.

Glioblastoma cancers caught at earlier stages (stage 0/in situ, stage 1) have a better outlook. If the cancer has metastasized, treatment is more difficult, but in any case, it is important to maintain hope. It is important to understand that survival statistics represent averages - they should not be taken as prescriptive determinations of your future outcome.

What is the survival rate for glioblastoma?

Glioblastoma is an aggressive malignant tumor with an incidence rate of 3.19 per 100,000 people in America. Moreover, glioblastoma accounts for over 49% of all primary brain tumors [¹²]. According to the National Brain Tumor Society, glioblastoma has a five-year survival rate of 6.8% [¹³]. That means that only 6 people out of 100 patients would survive the first five years after diagnosis. Moreover, research suggests that glioblastoma has a median survival of only 15 months. Thus, glioblastoma remains one of the most aggressive and incurable diseases.

Survival rate of glioblastoma based on age

The median age of diagnosis of glioblastoma is around 64 years (primary de novo Glioblastoma) and 45 years (secondary glioblastoma). Moreover, the incidence rate of glioblastoma peaks at ages 74-84 years [¹⁴]. The survival rate of glioblastoma varies highly depending on the patient's age at the time of diagnosis. According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year relative survival rates of glioblastoma based on age are [¹⁵]:

Ages 20-44: 22%
Ages 45-54: 9%
Ages 54-64: 6%

Survival rate of glioblastoma in women vs. Survival rate of glioblastoma in men

Glioblastoma affects both men and women. However, the incidence rate of glioblastoma is higher in men than in females. In the United States, the incidence rate in men and women is 3.97 and 2.53, respectively. However, the incidence varies depending on the type of glioblastoma. The ratio between men and women for primary glioblastoma is 1:0.33 (higher in men than in women), while the ratio is 0.65:1 for secondary glioblastoma (higher in women than in men) [¹⁶].

The prognosis of glioblastoma is highly dependent on gender and the role of sex hormones. The five-year survival rate for glioblastoma is higher in women than in men. One study investigated the survival rate of glioblastoma in men and women in over 6586 patients and found that the survival rates for glioblastoma in men and women were 6.8% and 8.3%, respectively [¹⁷].

Glioblastoma survival rates based on race/ethnicity.

Glioblastoma affects people of all races and ethnicity but is predominantly seen in European Americans (white) people. The incidence rate in white people is 2.5 times higher than in African Americans. Moreover, glioblastoma is more common in non-Hispanic people than in Hispanics [¹⁸].

Accordingly, race and ethnicity significantly affect the prognosis for glioblastoma. Research suggests that the survival rates of White, Black, and Hispanic patients in the first three years after diagnosis were 27.7%, 28.8%, and 32.3%, respectively [¹⁹].

Glioblastoma treatment options

Treatment options for glioblastoma depend on the size and location of the tumor, as well as the patient's age and overall health. Some of the main treatment methods for glioblastoma include the following.

Surgery for glioblastoma

Surgery is the most common treatment for glioblastoma. Surgery aims to remove as much of the tumor as possible without damaging surrounding brain tissue [²⁰]. If the tumor is located in a part of the brain that is easily accessible, such as the frontal or temporal lobes, it may be possible to remove the entire tumor. However, surgery may not be possible if the tumor is located in a more difficult-to-reach area of the brain, such as the brainstem or thalamus.

Radiation Therapy for glioblastoma

Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy may be used before or after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells or as the primary treatment if surgery is not possible. The most common type of radiation therapy for glioblastoma is external beam radiation therapy, which delivers radiation from outside the body [²¹].

Chemotherapy for glioblastoma

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be given orally or intravenously. It may be used in combination with radiation therapy or as the primary treatment if surgery and radiation therapy are not possible. The most commonly used chemotherapy drugs for glioblastoma are temozolomide and carmustine [²²].

Immunotherapy for glioblastoma

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts a patient's immune system to fight cancer. Immunotherapy drugs called checkpoint inhibitors may be used to treat glioblastoma. These drugs block proteins in cancer cells that prevent the immune system from attacking them.

Targeted Therapy for glioblastoma

Targeted therapy involves drugs that target specific molecules or proteins involved in the growth of cancer cells. Targeted therapy drugs may be used to treat glioblastoma. These drugs work by interfering with specific pathways involved in cancer cell growth.

Clinical trials for glioblastoma

If a patient does not respond to the current treatment methods for glioblastoma, they may choose to join a clinical trial. Glioblastoma clinical trials are research studies that test new treatments or combinations of treatments for glioblastoma. These trials are designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of these treatments in patients with glioblastoma. Clinical trials are an important part of developing new treatments and therapies for glioblastoma and other types of cancer.

If you or your doctor believes that you should join a clinical trial for glioblastoma treatment, you may want to check out Power to see if there are any clinical trials that could potentially benefit you, or you might consider checking out Leal Health, an AI-powered platform that helps you be informed of all the potential treatment options available. Both platforms aim to empower patients to participate actively in their healthcare decisions.

Conclusion

Takeaway

While the glioblastoma survival rate is relatively low, there are still reasons for hope. Advances in treatments such as immunotherapy and targeted therapy provide new options for patients with glioblastoma, and ongoing research is helping to improve our understanding of this challenging condition. In addition, several resources are available to support patients and their families, including support groups and counseling services. With the right care and support, patients with glioblastoma can continue to lead fulfilling lives and make the most of the time they have.