Glioblastoma remains incurable despite advances in surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, underscoring the need for new therapies. The genetic heterogenicity, presence of redundant molecular pathways, and the blood-brain barrier have limited the applicability of molecularly targeted agents. The therapeutic benefit seen with a small subset of patients suggests, however, that patient selection is critical. Recent investigations show that molecularly targeted synthetic lethality is a promising complementary approach. The article provides an overview of the challenges of molecularly targeted therapy in adults with glioblastoma, including current trials and future therapeutic directions.
Keywords: Blood-brain barrier; Glioblastoma; Heterogenicity; Synthetic lethality; Targeted therapy.
Published by Elsevier Inc.