Re-evaluating Biopsy for Recurrent Glioblastoma: A Position Statement by the Christopher Davidson Forum Investigators
Edjah K. Nduom, Melanie Hayden Gephart, Milan G. Chheda, Mario L. Suvà, Nduka Amankulor, James Battiste, Jian Campian, Ralph G. Dacey, Sunit Das, Peter E. Fecci, Constantinos G. Hadjipanayis, Kimberly Hoang, Ali Jalali, Daniel A. Orringer, Akash J. Patel, Dimitris G. Placantonakis, Analiz Rodriguez, Isaac Yang, Jennifer S. Yu, G.J. Zipfel, Gavin P. Dunn, Eric C. Leuthardt, Albert H. Kim, on behalf of the Christopher Davidson Forum Investigators
Abstract
Patients with glioblastoma (GBM) need bold new approaches to their treatment, yet progress has been hindered by a relative inability to dynamically track treatment response, mechanisms of resistance, evolution of targetable mutations, and changes in mutational burden. We are writing on behalf of a multidisciplinary group of academic neuro-oncology professionals who met at the collaborative Christopher Davidson Forum at Washington University in St Louis in the fall of 2019. We propose a dramatic but necessary change to the routine management of patients with GBM to advance the field: to routinely biopsy recurrent GBM at the time of presumed recurrence. Data derived from these samples will identify true recurrence vs treatment effect, avoid treatments with little chance of success, enable clinical trial access, and aid in the scientific advancement of our understanding of GBM.