Investigators may have uncovered how radiotherapy affects survival in patients with glioblastoma multiforme and low-grade glioma, according to a recent study published by Veviorskiy et al in Aging. The findings highlighted key biological differences between these cancer types.
Background
Glioblastoma multiforme and low-grade glioma have distinct biological behaviors. Glioblastoma multiforme is an aggressive cancer with poor survival rates, whereas low-grade gliomas progress more slowly and often have a better prognosis.
“[Glioblastoma multiforme] and [low-grade gliomas] are particularly interesting to study together because [glioblastoma multiforme] often originates from a preexisting [low-grade glioma], representing a progression from a lower-grade to a higher-grade malignancy,” the study authors explained.
Study Methods and Results
Investigators used data from The Cancer Genome Atlas to analyze 32 cancer types, and then focused on glioblastoma multiforme and low-grade glioma.
The investigators found that radiotherapy had opposite effects in patients with glioblastoma multiforme and those with low-grade gliomas. The patients with glioblastoma multiforme who received radiotherapy lived longer, whereas those with low-grade gliomas had shorter survival following radiotherapy.
The investigators analyzed gene expression and signaling pathways to identify several biological processes that may influence radiotherapy outcomes. They discovered that glioblastoma multiforme had weaker DNA repair mechanisms, making these tumors more vulnerable to radiation-induced damage and allowing radiotherapy to effectively kill the cancer cells. In contrast, low-grade gliomas had stronger DNA repair systems, helping cells survive radiation better and potentially reducing the effectiveness of radiotherapy. Additionally, differences in immune system activity and genetic mutations—such as EGFR alterations—were linked to poorer survival in patients with low-grade gliomas who received radiotherapy.
Conclusions
The findings emphasized the need for more personalized treatment strategies to treat these malignancies. The investigators proposed that a universal approach to radiotherapy may not be appropriate, particularly among patients with low-grade gliomas; instead, personalized treatment strategies based on genetic and molecular characteristics could improve survival outcomes. They suggested the potential of combining radiotherapy with targeted therapies—including immune-boosting therapies or DNA repair inhibitors—to enhance treatment efficacy.
Further studies may be needed to refine therapeutic strategies. By understanding the molecular and genetic differences between the different types of cancers, more effective and personalized approaches can be developed to improve survival and quality of life among patients with glioblastoma multiforme and low-grade gliomas.
“These insights underscore the importance of personalized treatment approaches and the need for further research to improve radiotherapy outcomes in patients [with cancer],” the study authors concluded.
Disclosure: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit aging-us.com.
