Glioblastomas are aggressive and malignant Grade IV brain tumors that originate in the brain’s glial cells. They are the most invasive type of glial tumors; they grow rapidly and often spread to nearby brain tissue. It is rare for glioblastomas to spread outside of the brain.

GBM is the most common primary brain tumor, accounting for more than 50% of primary brain tumors. Over 15,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with glioblastoma every year.

There is no cure for glioblastoma. The current standard of care includes surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy. These treatments are not effective long-term, and more research is needed to develop better therapies.

GBM is most prevalent in older adults. The median age of diagnosis is 64. However, it is being seen more often in adolescents and young adults (ages 19-39); more research is underway to determine the cause.