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A scientific mystery: What is the real cause of glioblastoma?
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive and common brain cancer with a dismal prognosis and low survival rate. Despite continued efforts to find new treatments, the cause of this cancer remains a mystery. Studies show that the early signs of glioblastoma are often subtle and can include headaches, personality changes, nausea and stroke-like symptoms. These symptoms can rapidly worsen and may progress to coma.
"Although glioblastoma accounts for 15% of all brain tumors, the exact cause of the disease is still unknown."
Causes and risk factors
Most cases of glioblastoma are of unknown cause, but a few are associated with genetic disorders such as neurofibromatosis and Li-Fraumeni syndrome. In addition, having received radiation therapy is also a known risk factor. These tumors are generally thought to arise from cells called astrocytes. For the 661,000 patients currently diagnosed with glioblastoma, median survival is 10 to 13 months, and without treatment, survival is typically just three months.
"After surgery, the prognosis for glioblastoma patients remains poor, with only 5% to 10% of patients surviving more than five years."
Pathology and Diagnosis
Glioblastoma is usually diagnosed using methods such as CT scans, MRI scans and tissue biopsies. Once diagnosed, patients sometimes need surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Typical chemotherapy drugs, such as temozolomide, are widely used in the treatment process.
"It is generally believed that surgery can improve survival rates, but the increase is only a few months."
Evolution of molecular mechanisms and etiology
The molecular mechanisms of glioblastoma are still under investigation, and many genetic variations are believed to be related to its malignancy. These include mutations in the EGFR gene and methylation of the MGMT gene, which may affect the tumor's response to treatment.
Potential Role of Environmental Factors
Although there is no clear evidence that environmental factors such as smoking and pesticide exposure directly cause glioblastoma, research is ongoing to determine whether these factors increase the risk.
Therapeutic challenges and future research
Glioblastoma is challenging to treat due to the resistance of tumor cells to traditional therapies and the limited repair capacity of the brain. Current treatments are still mainly aimed at relieving symptoms rather than curing the disease. Treatment plans for glioblastoma often include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, but new treatments are still being explored.
"Treating glioblastoma is complicated by the fact that it is not possible to know exactly what is happening in each patient."
Challenges to the scientific community
In summary, the cause of glioblastoma remains a significant scientific mystery. Research is ongoing as scientists and medical professionals explore possible causes and new treatments in the hope of finding effective cures in the future.
In this challenging field, whether we can break through the truth behind glioblastoma and find effective prevention and treatment methods will become an important topic of future medical research?
