What is glioblastoma multiforme? ... GBM is a grade 4 glioma brain tumor arising from brain cells called glial cells. A brain tumor's grade refers to how likely ...SkipNavigationImportantUpdates:RecallonPhilipsRespironicsmedicaldevices|COVID-19vaccinationsPhilipsRespironicsissuedarecallforsomeCPAPandBiLevelPAPdevicesandmechanicalventilators.Learnmore. COVID-19:Wearevaccinatingpatientsages12+.Learnmore:Vaccines&3rdDoses|Testing|PatientCare|VisitorGuidelines|Coronavirus|Self-Checker|EmailAlertsHealthHomeConditionsandDiseasesGlioblastomaMultiforme(GBM):AdvancingTreatmentforaDangerousBrainTumorFacebookTwitterLinkedinPinterestPrintBrainTumorTreatmentNeurologyBrain,NervesandSpineBrainTumorFeaturedExperts:JonWeingart,M.D.Ifbraintumorsweresharks,theglioblastomamultiforme,orGBM,wouldbethegreatwhite.Morethananyotherbraincancer,GBMinspiresfearbecauseofitsalmostunstoppableaggression.Infact,justagenerationago,thediagnosisofGBMmeantfacingaprognosisofmonths,orevenweeks—notyears—tolive.Butthatpictureischanging.Cliniciansandresearchersareadvancingtreatmentandprolonginglifeinpatientswiththisbraintumor.JonWeingart,M.D.,oftheJohnsHopkinsComprehensiveBrainTumorCenter,answerssomequestions.Whatisglioblastomamultiforme?GBMisagrade4gliomabraintumorarisingfrombraincellscalledglialcells.Abraintumor'sgradereferstohowlikelythetumoristogrowandspread.Grade4isthemostaggressiveandserioustypeoftumor.Thetumor'scellsareabnormal,andthetumorcreatesnewbloodvesselsasitgrows.Thetumormayaccumulatedeadcells(necrosis)initscore.WhatcausesGBM?Doesitruninfamilies?Despitealltheadvancesintreatment,westilldon'tunderstandwhatcausesGBMs.Theyarenothereditary.DoGBMsaffectchildren?Theycan,butGBMismuchmorecommoninadultsthaninchildren.What'sthetreatmentforGBM?ThestandardoftreatmentforaGBMissurgery,followedbydailyradiationandoralchemotherapyforsixandahalfweeks,thenasix-monthregimenoforalchemotherapygivenfivedaysamonth.Tostart,theneurosurgeonwillremoveasmuchofthetumoraspossibleandmayimplantmedicatedwafersrightintothebrain.D