By Dr. Mónica Echeverry-Rendón

Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive and deadly forms of brain cancer. It affects approximately 3 out of every 100,000 people each year, with an estimated 250,000 people currently living with the disease worldwide. Despite advances in medical research, survival rates remain low. Standard treatment for glioblastoma includes surgical removal of the tumor when possible, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. While this multimodal approach can slow tumor progression, it rarely eliminates the cancer completely.  

In recent years, a new therapy has emerged that does not rely on surgery or drugs alone. Tumor Treating Fields (TTF) use low-intensity, alternating electric fields to disrupt cancer cell division. The electric fields interfere with the process by which cells divide, leading to slowed tumor growth and, in some cases, cell death. TTF has been approved for recurrent and newly diagnosed glioblastoma, but challenges remain. The therapy must be used continuously for 18 hours or more per day to be effective. Additionally, personalized approaches are needed to identify who will benefit the most.

This is where the future may lie not just in better devices, but in better models. Researchers are now exploring how advanced materials and three-dimensional (3D) tumor models like spheroids can help us test treatments more effectively in the lab.

Could the combination of new materials, 3D tumor models, and electric field therapy be the key to transforming how we treat brain cancer? The answer may reshape the future of oncology.