title: Recent advances in the molecular understanding of glioblastoma.
abstract: Glioblastoma is the most common and most aggressive primary brain tumor. Despite maximum treatment, patients only have a median survival time of 15 months, because of the tumor's resistance to current therapeutic approaches. Thus far, methylation of the O (6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter has been the only confirmed molecular predictive factor in glioblastoma. Novel "genome-wide" techniques have identified additional important molecular alterations as mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) and its prognostic importance. This review summarizes findings and techniques of genetic, epigenetic, transcriptional, and proteomic studies of glioblastoma. It provides the clinician with an up-to-date overview of current identified molecular alterations that should ultimately lead to new therapeutic targets and more individualized treatment approaches in glioblastoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, H2 247, Neurosurgical Center Amsterdam, Location AMC, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. f.e.bleeker@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Fonnet E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Bleeker
authors.forename: Remco J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Molenaar
authors.forename: Sieger
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leenstra
mesh_terms: D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods