The spectrum of vaccine therapies for patients with glioblastoma multiforme.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary malignant tumor of the central nervous system (CNS) and one of the most lethal cancers in adults and children. Despite aggressive treatment with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, median survival is less than 15 months and overall survival is less than 10 % at 5 years. Development of therapeutics for malignant gliomas has been hampered by their natural complexity as well as protective mechanisms unique to the CNS. Better understanding of the pathogenesis of GBM is opening the path to novel, specific-targeted therapies. Recently, multiple immunotherapy approaches have been acquiring substantial indication of therapeutic efficacy with a very safe profile. Examples of the leading clinical approaches for GBM will be discussed in detail in this review.