Management of glioblastoma in the elderly

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive and common malignant primary brain tumor among adults. Due to its aggressiveness, GBM entails a short median overall survival and fatal outcomes. Incidence notably increases with age, 50% of patients being diagnosed at the age of 65 or older. Given that cognitive loss is commonly confused with age-related cognitive impairment, delays in diagnosis are frequent. Furthermore, the elderly are a vulnerable group, commonly having poorer functional status, more comorbidities, and reduced tolerance to intensive treatments. Therefore, clinical and therapeutic implications should be considered within a multidisciplinary approach. The aim of the present study was to review the current knowledge on the management of glioblastoma in the elderly population (≥ 65 years).