Is Glioblastoma Hereditary?

Glioblastoma is the most common type of adult brain cancer. They are highly aggressive tumours and they grow and spread quickly.

Glioblastomas almost always appear sporadic in people with no family history of brain tumours.

As a result, scientific evidence suggests that the vast majority of cases of this cancer are not hereditary. The precise underlying cause of glioblastoma is still unknown.

Although the majority of glioblastomas are not thought to be inherited, the risk of developing this type of brain cancer appears to be increased in people with certain genetic cancer syndromes, such as Neurofibromatosis type 1, Turcot syndrome and Li Fraumeni syndrome

Individuals affected in these cases typically exhibit symptoms caused by specific gene mutations, and they are typically diagnosed with multiple types of cancer at a young age.

Glioblastoma cells have more genetic abnormalities than other types of brain cancer cells, so researchers believe that multiple genetic mutations may contribute to their development.

Individuals who have an inherited condition that may predispose them to develop glioblastoma can undergo genetic testing.