An often-neglected group, the elderly have different challenges when they are diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour. There is the issue of how to treat or even whether to treat, particularly if the person with the tumour has other major illnesses. A GBM tends to be more aggressive in the elderly and there is potential to under-treat. The average age of being diagnosed with a GBM in 64, and in the last 40 years the numbers of people over 70 being diagnosed with a GBM has doubled.

So brainstrust was delighted to be able to support two pieces of research (University of Sussex) that explore the best way to predict mortality and also how tolerable treatment is for this vulnerable group of people.

The GOLDEN study was a UK based multicentre study, assessing the feasibility of embedding a neurological geriatric assessment screening process within busy NHS outpatient neuro-oncology clinics with no extra resources. The study closed last year. Geriatric assessments were found to be feasible to perform and provided useful clinical information not otherwise routinely collected. A small group of patients in this study were also analysed to see if pre-treatment MRI scans could predict for toxicity from radiotherapy treatment. A strong link was found and so this is now being researched in the BRITER study. This is examining the change in quality of life from baseline to 8 weeks after radiotherapy. This study is expected to publish at the end of 2020.