For the purpose of this post, I will be discussing gliomas (brain cancer), more specifically, I
will be talking about Glioblastoma multiforme.
Cancer cells are the result of abnormal cell growth. Our body creates abnormal cells all the
time, but our body, by way of T-cells and helper T-cells, usually manages this abnormal cell
growth (Avissar et al., 2013). When something is wrong with these checks and balances,
tumours begin to form. These tumours can either be benign (slow growing and it does not
spread) or malignant (fast growing and it does spread) (Avissar et al., 2013).
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive and malignant cancer which forms in the
glia of the brain (Holland, 2000). The glia are non-neuronal cells which have different subsets
(Cedar Sinai, n.d.). The one that is of specific interest to us are the astrocytes, which is a cell
that helps to support the nerve cells and carry nutrients to them (Cedar Sinai, n.d.). GBM can
either begin outright in the brain or develop from a low-grade astrocytoma, which is also a
type of cancer (Cedar Sinai, n.d.). Doctors are unsure as what the exact cause is for the
mutations which form in the glia (Cedar Sinai, n.d.).
The typical methods for treatment can include surgery to remove as many cancerous cells as
possible, after which, radiation and chemotherapy might occur in order to damage DNA in
order to prevent DNA replication (Holland, 2000). However, a multiforme is just that, i.e.
they take on multiple forms and can be very hard to find it all, let alone treat. Because doctors
do not know what causes the cell mutations and replications, we can only treat the symptoms
right now (Holland, 2000). Unfortunately, the treatment is only temporary as it only buys the
patients a few more months (Holland, 2000). Doctors and researchers have also tried more
creative ways to treat this cancer, by way of killing neoplastic cells far away from the actual
tumour in order to prevent the spreading of the tumour (Holland, 2000).
In conclusion, a glioblastoma multiforme is an aggressive, malignant tumour which forms in
the astrocytes of the glia of the brain. It is difficult to treat, and any treatment is only
temporary. Treatment is only for the symptoms and can involve surgery, radiation and
chemotherapy, and newer methods.
References
Avissar, Y., Choi, J., DeSaix, J., Jurukovski, O. V., Wise, R., & Rye, C. (2013, May 20)
Biology (1st ed.). OpenStax.
Cedar Sinai. (n.d.). Glioblastoma Multiforme. Retrieved September 27, 2022, from
https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/g/glioblastoma-
multiforme.html
Holland, E. C. (2000, June 6). Glioblastoma multiforme: The terminator. Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences, 97(12), 6242-6244
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.97.12.6242