Frontiers in the treatment of glioblastoma: Past, present and emerging

Taskeen Iqbal Janjua; Prarthana Rewatkar; Aria Ahmed-Cox; Iqira Saeed; Friederike M Mansfeld; Ritu Kulshreshtha; Tushar Kumeria; David S Ziegler; Maria Kavallaris; Roberta Mazzieri; Amirali Popat

doi:10.1016/j.addr.2021.01.012

Frontiers in the treatment of glioblastoma: Past, present and emerging

Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2021 Apr:171:108-138. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.01.012. Epub 2021 Jan 21.

Affiliations

¹ School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia.
² Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia; School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology and Australian Centre for Nanomedicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
³ Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia; School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology and Australian Centre for Nanomedicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia.
⁴ Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India.
⁵ School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; Mater Research Institute -The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia.
⁶ Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia; School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia.
⁷ Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia; School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology and Australian Centre for Nanomedicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. Electronic address: m.kavallaris@ccia.unsw.edu.au.
⁸ Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia. Electronic address: r.mazzieri@uq.edu.au.
⁹ School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia; Mater Research Institute -The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia. Electronic address: a.popat@uq.edu.au.

PMID: 33486006
DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.01.012

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most aggressive cancers of the brain. Despite extensive research over the last several decades, the survival rates for GBM have not improved and prognosis remains poor. To date, only a few therapies are approved for the treatment of GBM with the main reasons being: 1) significant tumour heterogeneity which promotes the selection of resistant subpopulations 2) GBM induced immunosuppression and 3) fortified location of the tumour in the brain which hinders the delivery of therapeutics. Existing therapies for GBM such as radiotherapy, surgery and chemotherapy have been unable to reach the clinical efficacy necessary to prolong patient survival more than a few months. This comprehensive review evaluates the current and emerging therapies including those in clinical trials that may potentially improve both targeted delivery of therapeutics directly to the tumour site and the development of agents that may specifically target GBM. Particular focus has also been given to emerging delivery technologies such as focused ultrasound, cellular delivery systems nanomedicines and immunotherapy. Finally, we discuss the importance of developing novel materials for improved delivery efficacy of nanoparticles and therapeutics to reduce the suffering of GBM patients.

Keywords: Blood brain barrier; Drug delivery; Drug-loaded microchips; Emerging therapies; Focused ultrasound; Glioblastoma; Immunotherapy; Nanomedicine.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
Glioblastoma / drug therapy*
Humans