Timing of radiotherapy in newly diagnosed glioblastoma: no need to rush?

Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma. It has convincingly proven its value as part of the optimal management of glioblastoma in randomized trials, and is usually started within 6 weeks after surgery.¹ It was initially tested as monotherapy after surgery but, since the publication of the phase III trial by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer/National Cancer Institute of Canada in 2005, is universally given in combination with temozolomide chemotherapy.² With the current approach, the overall prognosis of newly diagnosed glioblastoma remains, however, poor, with a 2-year survival rate of less than 30%.²