**Preface to "Novel Treatment Strategies for Glioblastoma"**

Glioblastoma is the most common and deadliest primary central nervous system tumor in adults. Glioblastomas diffusely invade into the surrounding normal brain tissue, resulting in a local neurologically destructive impact on the brain tissue and function. The extensive intra- and intertumoral heterogeneity displayed by glioblastoma cells and its tumor microenvironment give rise to a cancer that is extremely difficult to treat. Since the introduction of the Stupp protocol in 2005, there has not been a significant increase in the survival of patients with glioblastoma and prognosis continues to be poor with an approximate median survival of 12–15 months from diagnosis, despite ongoing improvements in surgical techniques, disease monitoring and systemic therapies. Despite the slow, incremental increase in glioblastoma patient survival, clinicians and researchers have maintained their motivation to make important gains in the understanding and management of glioblastoma. Chemotherapy-based approaches remain an essential part in the treatment of glioblastoma, and this area continues to evolve as we attempt to overcome the challenges of treatment resistance, efficient drug delivery to the tumor to limit off-target toxic side effects, drug efflux and blood–brain barrier permeability. The design of novel clinical trial strategies, the use of immunotherapeutic approaches, viral vectors used as cytotoxic agent or gene delivery tools, drug repurposing, nanomedicines and genomic based studies mapping this heterogeneous disease to define a cellular drug response are just some of the areas that signify that the management of glioblastoma is entering a new era, with an increasing number of potential treatments being made available to improve the survival outcome of glioblastoma patients.

> **Stanley Stylli** *Editor*
