Gliomas are the most common malignant brain tumours in adults. In 2016,
gliomas were categorised into four grades (WHO grades I–IV). Glioblastoma, which is
classified as grade IV, is the most aggressive and severe type, with a 5-year relative
survival rate of approximately 5% in adults. Conventional treatment options include
surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, depending on the risk and grade of
gliomas. Novel therapeutic strategies include immunotherapy and molecularly targeted
biomarker therapies as mono- or combination therapies. One of the classical oral
chemotherapeutic anti-cancer agents, temozolomide (TMZ), is beneficial for the
treatment of newly diagnosed and recurrent gliomas. However, the risk of several side
effects, including apoptosis and autophagy in normal brain cells, persists. Recently, in
vitro and in vivo studies have provided evidence that immunotherapies, such as those
based on type I interferons (IFNs), exert more significant anti-cancer effects against
gliomas. Furthermore, mutations in epigenetic regulator genes, such as IDH1, IDH2,
and MGMT, have been characterised as therapeutic targets for gliomas. However, there
are still some challenges associated with the efficient treatment of gliomas, including
the tumour microenvironment, recurrence, and prognosis. Therefore, the development
of novel therapeutic strategies for cancer is necessary. Herein, we have
comprehensively discussed and reviewed the therapeutic strategies currently available
for treating gliomas in adult patients.
Keywords: Adjuvant Chemotherapy, Clinical Trials, Combination Therapy,
Glioma, Glioblastoma, Immunotherapy, Immune Response, Molecularly Targeted
Therapy, Molecular Biomarkers, Monotherapy, Prognosis, Survival Rate,
Temozolomide.
