Molecular profile of long-term survivors of glioblastoma: A scoping review of the literature

Abstract

Molecular aberrations of malignancy are becoming widely recognized as important predictive and prognostic markers for treatment response and survival in oncology and have been linked to the discovery of novel treatment targets. This area of research in glioblastoma continues to evolve. The aim of this scoping review was to document the hallmark molecular characteristics of long-term survivors of glioblastoma. MEDLINE, Scopus and EMBASE were searched with core concepts: (1) glioblastoma, (2) long-term survivor and (3) molecular OR mutation. A thematic analysis was undertaken of the 18 included studies. Four main classes of characteristics were obtained: IDH mutation, MGMT methylation, other known characteristics and novel discoveries. While MGMT methylation or the combination with IDH mutation are suggested to be hallmark characteristics, there remains enough uncertainty to suggest further factors may be involved, such as CD34 expression. Further research is required to accurately describe hallmark molecular characteristics of long-term survivors to assist in defining these patients at diagnosis, preventing treatment complications and discovering novel treatments.

Keywords: Glioblastoma; Long-term survivor; Molecular; Mutation.