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Long-Term Survivors

A small but important group of glioblastoma patients survive for many years after diagnosis. Research shows that these survivors are highly diverse, and no single clinical feature, molecular marker or treatment fully explains their outcomes.

Highlighted Papers

Briceno et al., 2024 — "Long-Term Survivors of Glioblastoma: Tumor Molecular, Clinical, and Imaging Findings"

Combines molecular, clinical and imaging data to examine the characteristics of long-term survivors. The study highlights the biological diversity within this exceptional patient group.

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Hertler et al., 2023 — Long-Term Survival with IDH Wildtype Glioblastoma: First Results from the ETERNITY Brain Tumor Funders’ Collaborative Consortium

Investigates long-term survival specifically in patients with IDH-wildtype glioblastoma. It provides important evidence that extended survival can occur even within this generally aggressive molecular subtype.

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Ballard et al., 2025 — Characteristics of Long-Term Glioblastoma Survivors Diagnosed from 2010 to 2016 in the United States

Examines the demographic and clinical characteristics of long-term survivors in a large US population. The study helps identify patterns associated with survival outside individual institutions.

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Gately et al., 2019 — "Molecular Profile of Long-Term Survivors of Glioblastoma: A Scoping Review of the Literature"

Reviews molecular features reported among long-term glioblastoma survivors. It finds possible recurring characteristics but no definitive molecular profile that explains every case.

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van Dijck et al., 2025 — "Survival Prediction in Glioblastoma: 10-Year Follow-Up from the Dutch Neurosurgery Quality Registry"

Uses long-term Dutch registry data to examine survival and prognostic factors following glioblastoma surgery. Its national scope provides valuable real-world evidence beyond selected clinical-trial populations.

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Further Literature

  • Alalami, H., Bannykh, S., Fan, X., Hu, J. (2023): Very long-term survival of an older glioblastoma patient after treatment with cilengitide: a case report. CNS Oncol. 2023 Jun 1;12(2):CNS96. https://doi.org/10.2217/cns-2022-0017

  • Ballard, C. A. P, Wang, Y., Kruchko, C., Barnholtz-Sloan, J. S., Li, Y., Ostrom, Q. T. (2025): Characteristics of long-term glioblastoma survivors diagnosed from 2010 to 2016 in the United States. Cancer Epidemiol. 2025 Aug;97:102810. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canep.2025.102810

  • Bi, W. L., Beroukhim, R. (2014): Beating the odds: extreme long-term survival with glioblastoma. Neuro Oncol. 2014 Sep;16(9):1159-60. https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/nou166

  • Briceno, N., Vera E, Komlodi-Pasztor, E., Abdullaev, Z. et al. (2024): Long-term survivors of glioblastoma: Tumor molecular, clinical, and imaging findings. Neurooncol Adv. 2024 Feb 8;6(1):vdae019. https://doi.org/10.1093/noajnl/vdae019

  • Caruso, R., Pesce, A., Wierzbicki, V. A (2017): very rare case report of long-term survival: A patient operated on in 1994 of glioblastoma multiforme and currently in perfect health. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2017;33:41-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2017.02.025.

  • Efremov, L., Abera, S.F, Bedir, A., Vordermark, D., Medenwald, D. (2021): Patterns of glioblastoma treatment and survival over a 16-years period: pooled data from the German Cancer Registries. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2021 Nov;147(11):3381-3390. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-021-03596-5. Erratum in: J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2022 Jan;148(1):279. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-021-03638-y

  • Gately, L., Mc Lachlan, S. A., Philip, J., Ruben, J., Dowling, A. (2018): Long-term survivors of glioblastoma: a closer look. J Neurooncol 136, 155–162 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-017-2635-1

  • Gately, L., Mc Lachlan, S. A., Philip, Rathi, V., Dowling, A. (2019): Molecular profile of long-term survivors of glioblastoma: A scoping review of the literature. J Clin Neurosci. 2019 Oct;68:1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocn.2019.08.017

  • Hertler, C., Felsberg, J., Gramatzki, D. et al. (2023): Long-term survival with IDH wildtype glioblastoma: first results from the ETERNITY Brain Tumor Funders' Collaborative Consortium (EORTC 1419). Eur J Cancer. 2023 Aug;189:112913. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2023.05.002

  • Marenco-Hillembrand, L., Wijesekera, O., Suarez-Meade, P. et al. (2020): Trends in glioblastoma: outcomes over time and type of intervention: a systematic evidence based analysis. J Neurooncol 147, 297–307 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-020-03451-6

  • Marton, E., Giordan, E., Siddi, F, et al. (2019): Over ten years overall survival in glioblastoma: A different disease? J Neurol Sci. 2020 Jan 15;408:116518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2019.116518

  • Park, C. K., Bae, J. M., Park, S. H. (2019): Long-term survivors of glioblastoma are a unique group of patients lacking universal characteristic features. Neurooncol Adv. 2019 Dec 23;2(1):vdz056. https://doi.org/10.1093/noajnl/vdz056

  • Rabab'h, O., Al-Ramadan, A., Shah. J., Lopez-Negrete, H., Gharaibeh, A. (2021): Twenty Years After Glioblastoma Multiforme Diagnosis: A Case of Long-Term Survival. Cureus. 2021 Jun 30;13(6):e16061. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.16061

  • Rocha, G. D., Soares, T., João, D. A., Lima, T., Marques, B. A. Extremely Long-Term Glioblastoma Survival (Ten Years): A Possible Role of Immune Modulation From Pre-existing Diseases. Cureus. 2025 Dec 11;17(12):e98984. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.98984

  • Santhi, J. L. A., Ali, H., Vegivinti, C. T. R., Bodrova, E., Mehta, M., Varghese, R. S., Sriram, V., Thirumaran, R. EPR25-138: Glioblastoma Multiforme: A SEER STAT Analysis of Epidemiological, Laterality, and Anatomical Prognostic Indicators. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 2025, 23(3.5). https://doi.org/10.6004/jnccn.2024.7312

  • Van Dijck, J.T.J.M., Ardon, H., Balvers, R.K. et al. Survival prediction in glioblastoma: 10-year follow-up from the Dutch Neurosurgery Quality Registry. J Neurooncol 174, 753–764 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-025-05080-3

  • Webb, L.M., Neth, B. J., Raghunathan, A., Greipp, P. T., Ida, C. M., Carabenciov, I. D., Ruff, M. W. A Case of Long-Term Survival After Glioblastoma, IDH-Wild Type. Neurologist. 2024 Jul 1;29(4):254-258. https://doi.org/10.1097/NRL.0000000000000564

  • Wegner R., White R., Abel S., Yu A., Xu L., Karlovits S., Ranjan T. National Trends in the Use of Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy in the Up Front Management of Glioblastoma. J Immunological Sci. (2019); 3(2): 21-27. https://doi.org/10.29245/2578-3009/2019/2.1170

  • Williams, B. A. Williams Glioblastoma: Is Survival Possible? By Ben A. Williams Copyright, 2014. https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=158671392

  • Withers, H. G., Figel, S. A., Qiu, J. et al. Intratumoral B cell and interferon signatures in newly diagnosed glioblastoma are associated with longer survival in patients treated with SurVaxM. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2025 Oct 9;74(11):332. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-025-04193-y

  • Hershberg, E., Going Founder Mode On Cancer, Sid Sijbrandij's extraordinary care journey. The Century of Biology, Jan 18, 2026. https://centuryofbio.com/p/sid

  • Williams, B. A. Surviving Terminal Cancer: Clinical Trials, Drug Cocktails, and Other Treatments Your Oncologist Won't Tell You About. Fairview Press, 2002.

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