Clinical and Demographic Profile of Syrian Patients with Malignant Glioma: A Six-Month Retrospective Analysis
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study presents a retrospective analysis of glioblastoma cases admitted to Tishreen University Hospital in Lattakia, Syria, between February and August 2024. The study examines the several potential risk factors including age, sex, genetic predispositions, and lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption. It also explores the most commonly encountered tumor grade and the presence of various neurological symptoms, as well as treatment outcomes. A total of 30 glioblastoma were enrolled in this study, 63% of which were males, and the highest age incidence was between 40 and 50 years. Only 6% had a family history of glioblastoma, and 66% of the patients were smokers. Memory disorders, visual impairments, and headaches were common symptoms, with 100% of the patients reporting nausea and vomiting. Glioblastoma diagnosis was primarily established through MRI with contrast (76%), and the predominant treatment modality was surgery combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy (80%). Post-treatment relapse occurred in 26% of the patients, with a median remission period of four months. These findings provide important insights into the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of glioblastoma patients in this region.
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
Wirsching, H.-G. and M. Weller, Glioblastoma. Malignant Brain Tumors: State-of-the-Art Treatment, 2017: p. 265-288. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49864-5_18
1, C.G.A.R.N.T.s.s.D.U.M.S.M.R.F.A.B.D., et al., Comprehensive genomic characterization defines human glioblastoma genes and core pathways. Nature, 2008. 455(7216): p. 1061-1068. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature07385
Papacocea, S.I., et al., Molecular Profile as an Outcome Predictor in Glioblastoma along with MRI Features and Surgical Resection: A Scoping Review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024. 25(17): p. 9714. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25179714
White, J., et al., The tumour microenvironment, treatment resistance and recurrence in glioblastoma. Journal of Translational Medicine, 2024. 22(1): p. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-024-05301-9
Rong, L., N. Li, and Z. Zhang, Emerging therapies for glioblastoma: current state and future directions. Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research, 2022. 41(1): p. 142. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13046-022-02349-7
Hanif, F., et al., Glioblastoma multiforme: a review of its epidemiology and pathogenesis through clinical presentation and treatment. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention: APJCP, 2017. 18(1): p. 3.
Tamimi, A.F. and M. Juweid, Epidemiology and outcome of glioblastoma. Exon Publications, 2017: p. 143-153. https://doi.org/10.15586/codon.glioblastoma.2017.ch8
De Souza, J.A., et al., Global health equity: cancer care outcome disparities in high-, middle-, and low-income countries. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2016. 34(1): p. 6-13. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2015.62.2860
Tini, P., et al., Challenges and Opportunities in Accessing Surgery for Glioblastoma in Low–Middle Income Countries: A Narrative Review. Cancers, 2024. 16(16): p. 2870. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16162870
Alhaffar, M.B.A. and S. Janos, Public health consequences after ten years of the Syrian crisis: a literature review. Globalization and health, 2021. 17(1): p. 111. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-021-00762-9
Haar, R., et al., The cascading impacts of attacks on health in Syria: A qualitative study of health system and community impacts. PLOS global public health, 2024. 4(6): p. e0002967. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0002967
Al-Abdulla, O., et al., The impact of humanitarian aid on financial toxicity among cancer patients in Northwest Syria. BMC Health Services Research, 2024. 24(1): p. 641. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11077-x
Chen, B., et al., Recent incidence trend of elderly patients with glioblastoma in the United States, 2000–2017. BMC cancer, 2021. 21: p. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-020-07778-1
Wen, P.Y., et al., Glioblastoma in adults: a Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) and European Society of Neuro-Oncology (EANO) consensus review on current management and future directions. Neuro-oncology, 2020. 22(8): p. 1073-1113. https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noaa106
Ostrom, Q.T., et al., Adult glioma incidence and survival by race or ethnicity in the United States from 2000 to 2014. JAMA oncology, 2018. 4(9): p. 1254-1262. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2018.1789
Vienne-Jumeau, A., C. Tafani, and D. Ricard, Environmental risk factors of primary brain tumors: A review. Revue neurologique, 2019. 175(10): p. 664-678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurol.2019.08.004
Onishi, S., et al., Characteristics and therapeutic strategies of radiation-induced glioma: case series and comprehensive literature review. Journal of Neuro-Oncology, 2022. 159(3): p. 531-538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-022-04090-9
Eckerling, A., et al., Stress and cancer: mechanisms, significance and future directions. Nature Reviews Cancer, 2021. 21(12): p. 767-785. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41568-021-00395-5
Ostrom, Q.T., et al., CBTRUS statistical report: primary brain and other central nervous system tumors diagnosed in the United States in 2009–2013. Neuro-oncology, 2016. 18(suppl_5): p. v1-v75. https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/now207
Yang, W., et al., Sex differences in GBM revealed by analysis of patient imaging, transcriptome, and survival data. Science translational medicine, 2019. 11(473): p. eaao5253. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.aao5253
Le Rhun, E. and M. Weller, Sex-specific aspects of epidemiology, molecular genetics and outcome: primary brain tumours. ESMO open, 2020. 5: p. e001034. https://doi.org/10.1136/esmoopen-2020-001034
Cioffi, G., et al., Sex differences in glioblastoma response to treatment: Impact of MGMT methylation. Neuro-Oncology Advances, 2024. 6(1): p. vdae031. https://doi.org/10.1093/noajnl/vdae031
McKinnon, C., et al., Glioblastoma: clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management. Bmj, 2021. 374. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1560
Rilinger, R.G., et al., Tumor-related epilepsy in high-grade glioma: a large series survival analysis. Journal of Neuro-Oncology, 2024: p. 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-024-04787-z
Ohgaki, H. and P. Kleihues, Genetic pathways to primary and secondary glioblastoma. The American journal of pathology, 2007. 170(5): p. 1445-1453. https://doi.org/10.2353/ajpath.2007.070011
Kessler, T., et al., Conventional and emerging treatments of astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas. Journal of Neuro-oncology, 2023. 162(3): p. 471-478. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-022-04216-z
Sasaki, H., et al., Oligodendroglioma, IDH-mutant and 1p/19q-codeleted-prognostic factors, standard of care and chemotherapy, and future perspectives with neoadjuvant strategy. Brain Tumor Pathology, 2024. 41(2): p. 43-49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10014-024-00480-1
Van den Bent, M.J., et al., IDH1 and IDH2 mutations are prognostic but not predictive for outcome in anaplastic oligodendroglial tumors: a report of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Brain Tumor Group. Clinical Cancer Research, 2010. 16(5): p. 1597-1604. https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-09-2902
Stupp, R., et al., Radiotherapy plus concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide for glioblastoma. New England journal of medicine, 2005. 352(10): p. 987-996. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa043330
Gerritsen, J.K.W., et al., Safe surgery for glioblastoma: Recent advances and modern challenges. Neuro-oncology practice, 2022. 9(5): p. 364-379. https://doi.org/10.1093/nop/npac019
Ohgaki, H. and P. Kleihues, Genetic alterations and signaling pathways in the evolution of gliomas. Cancer science, 2009. 100(12): p. 2235-2241. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1349-7006.2009.01308.x
Li, Y.M., et al., The influence of maximum safe resection of glioblastoma on survival in 1229 patients: can we do better than gross-total resection? Journal of neurosurgery, 2016. 124(4): p. 977-988. https://doi.org/10.3171/2015.5.JNS142087
Stupp, R., et al., Effects of radiotherapy with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide versus radiotherapy alone on survival in glioblastoma in a randomised phase III study: 5-year analysis of the EORTC-NCIC trial. The lancet oncology, 2009. 10(5): p. 459-466. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(09)70025-7
Mrugala, M.M., Advances and challenges in the treatment of glioblastoma: a clinician’s perspective. Discovery medicine, 2013. 15(83): p. 221-230.
Tebha, S.S., et al., Glioblastoma management in low and middle-income countries; existing challenges and policy recommendations. Brain and Spine, 2023: p. 101775. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bas.2023.101775
Rehman, F., Ali, S. S., Panhwar, H., Phul, Dr. A. H., Rajpar, S. A., Ahmed, S., Rabbani, S., & Mehmood, T. (2021). Brain Tumor Detection from MR Images using Image Process Techniques and Tools in Matlab Software. In International Journal of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technology (Vol. 1, Issue 4, pp. 1–4). https://doi.org/10.54105/ijamst.c3016.081421