Advances in local therapy for glioblastoma — taking the fight to the tumour

Despite advances in neurosurgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, glioblastoma remains one of the most treatment-resistant CNS malignancies, and the tumour inevitably recurs. The majority of recurrences appear in or near the resection cavity, usually within the area that received the highest dose of radiation. Many new therapies focus on combatting these local recurrences by implementing treatments directly in or near the tumour bed. In this Review, we discuss the latest developments in local therapy for glioblastoma, focusing on recent preclinical and clinical trials. The approaches that we discuss include novel intraoperative techniques, various treatments of the surgical cavity, stereotactic injections directly into the tumour, and new developments in convection-enhanced delivery and intra-arterial treatments. Glioblastoma is one of the most treatment-resistant CNS malignancies, and the tumour inevitably recurs, usually in or near the resection cavity. Here, the authors discuss local therapies for glioblastoma, examining treatment of the resection cavity and other direct approaches to the tumour.