Targeted Cancer Therapy for the Glioblastoma Brain Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common, aggressive, and deadly primary brain tumor in adults, characterized by rapid growth, high invasiveness, frequent recurrence, and poor patient survival. Despite advances in conventional treatment approaches such as surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy with temozolomide, the prognosis of glioblastoma remains poor due to tumor heterogeneity, therapy resistance, and the protective nature of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which limits effective drug delivery to the brain. This study has focused on developing advanced targeted therapies to overcome these limitations and improve therapeutic outcomes.

This review highlights the current understanding of glioblastoma pathophysiology, including the role of glioma stem cells, molecular mutations, and mechanisms of chemoresistance. It also discusses emerging therapeutic strategies such as immunotherapy, molecular targeted therapy, tumor treating fields (TTFields), and novel drug delivery systems including nanotechnology, receptor-mediated transport, and focused ultrasound for enhanced BBB penetration. These innovative approaches aim to improve treatment specificity, reduce systemic toxicity, and increase overall survival.

Although significant progress has been made, glioblastoma remains a major clinical challenge. Continued research into personalized medicine, targeted drug delivery, and molecular-based therapies is essential for developing more effective and safer treatment strategies, ultimately improving patient survival and quality of life.