Association between the Anatomical Location of Glioblastoma and Its Evaluation with Clinical Considerations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background: Glioblastoma is a primary malignant brain tumor; it is aggressive with a high degree of malignancy and unfavorable prognosis and is the most common type of malignant brain tumor. Glioblastomas can be located in the brain, cerebellum, brainstem, and spinal cord, originating from glial cells, particularly astrocytes. Methods: The databases MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and CINAHL were researched up to January 2024. Two authors independently performed the search, study selection, and data extraction. Methodological quality was evaluated with an assurance tool for anatomical studies (AQUA). The statistical mean, standard deviation, and difference of means calculated with the Student’s t-test for presence between hemispheres and presence in the frontal and temporal lobes were analyzed. Results: A total of 123 studies met the established selection criteria, with a total of 6224 patients. In relation to the mean, GBM between hemispheres had a mean of 33.36 (SD 58.00) in the right hemisphere and a mean of 34.70 (SD 65.07) in the left hemisphere, due to the difference in averages between hemispheres. There were no statistically significant differences, p = 0.35. For the comparison between the presence of GBM in the frontal lobe and the temporal lobe, there was a mean in the frontal lobe of 23.23 (SD 40.03), while in the temporal lobe, the mean was 22.05 (SD 43.50), and for the difference in means between the frontal lobe and the temporal lobe, there was no statistically significant difference for the presence of GBM, p = 0.178. Conclusions: We believe that before a treatment, it will always be correct to know where the GBM is located and how it behaves clinically, in order to generate correct conservative or surgical treatment guidelines for each patient. We believe that more detailed studies are also needed to show why GBM is associated more with some regions than others, despite the brain structure being homologous to other regions in which GMB occurs less frequently, which is why knowing its predominant presence in brain regions is very important.

The Spatial Signature of Glioblastoma: A Statistical Re-Assessment of Anatomical Distribution Based on Methylation Subtypes

“…However, it is noteworthy that our overall cohort showed a borderline dominance in the right hemisphere (56% vs. 44%, p = 0.054). Recent studies have found no significant difference in the prevalence of GB between the right and left hemispheres [4,24,25]. However, even in the latest meta-analysis from 2024, no study was included that investigated only IDH wild-type GB, according to the 2021 WHO classification [25].…”

“…Recent studies have found no significant difference in the prevalence of GB between the right and left hemispheres [4,24,25]. However, even in the latest meta-analysis from 2024, no study was included that investigated only IDH wild-type GB, according to the 2021 WHO classification [25]. Therefore, it would be interesting to explore this observation in more detail through larger studies.…”

The Spatial Signature of Glioblastoma: A Statistical Re-Assessment of Anatomical Distribution Based on Methylation Subtypes

“…However, it is noteworthy that our overall cohort showed a borderline dominance in the right hemisphere (56% vs. 44%, p = 0.054). Recent studies have found no significant difference in the prevalence of GB between the right and left hemispheres [4,24,25]. However, even in the latest meta-analysis from 2024, no study was included that investigated only IDH wild-type GB, according to the 2021 WHO classification [25].…”

“…Recent studies have found no significant difference in the prevalence of GB between the right and left hemispheres [4,24,25]. However, even in the latest meta-analysis from 2024, no study was included that investigated only IDH wild-type GB, according to the 2021 WHO classification [25]. Therefore, it would be interesting to explore this observation in more detail through larger studies.…”

Glioma lateralization: Focus on the anatomical localization and the distribution of molecular alterations (Review)

“…Recently, a broad meta-analysis has collected all the studies reporting the anatomical lateralization of glioma and GBM revealing no specific lateralization patterns in the right or left hemispheres. However, a clear relationship between tumor location in specific brain regions and glioma-associated symptoms were established ( 118 ). As regards the lateralization of glioma and GBM molecular features, more robust investigations on this specific topic are needed to establish lateralization patterns of mutations and epigenetics alterations.…”

Gut Dysbiosis Serine–Glycine Metabolism and Glioblastoma: Exploring Therapeutic Opportunities

“…Although most GBMs occur sporadically, some epidemiological studies have associated both environmental and genetic factors with disease risk [ 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92 ].…”

The Spatial Signature of Glioblastoma: A Statistical Re-Assessment of Anatomical Distribution Based on Methylation Subtypes

“…However, it is noteworthy that our overall cohort showed a borderline dominance in the right hemisphere (56% vs. 44%, p = 0.054). Recent studies have found no significant difference in the prevalence of GB between the right and left hemispheres [4,24,25]. However, even in the latest meta-analysis from 2024, no study was included that investigated only IDH wild-type GB, according to the 2021 WHO classification [25].…”

“…Recent studies have found no significant difference in the prevalence of GB between the right and left hemispheres [4,24,25]. However, even in the latest meta-analysis from 2024, no study was included that investigated only IDH wild-type GB, according to the 2021 WHO classification [25]. Therefore, it would be interesting to explore this observation in more detail through larger studies.…”

Glioma lateralization: Focus on the anatomical localization and the distribution of molecular alterations (Review)

“…Recently, a broad meta-analysis has collected all the studies reporting the anatomical lateralization of glioma and GBM revealing no specific lateralization patterns in the right or left hemispheres. However, a clear relationship between tumor location in specific brain regions and glioma-associated symptoms were established ( 118 ). As regards the lateralization of glioma and GBM molecular features, more robust investigations on this specific topic are needed to establish lateralization patterns of mutations and epigenetics alterations.…”

Gut Dysbiosis Serine–Glycine Metabolism and Glioblastoma: Exploring Therapeutic Opportunities

“…Although most GBMs occur sporadically, some epidemiological studies have associated both environmental and genetic factors with disease risk [ 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92 ].…”

The Spatial Signature of Glioblastoma: A Statistical Re-Assessment of Anatomical Distribution Based on Methylation Subtypes

“…However, it is noteworthy that our overall cohort showed a borderline dominance in the right hemisphere (56% vs. 44%, p = 0.054). Recent studies have found no significant difference in the prevalence of GB between the right and left hemispheres [4,24,25]. However, even in the latest meta-analysis from 2024, no study was included that investigated only IDH wild-type GB, according to the 2021 WHO classification [25].…”

“…Recent studies have found no significant difference in the prevalence of GB between the right and left hemispheres [4,24,25]. However, even in the latest meta-analysis from 2024, no study was included that investigated only IDH wild-type GB, according to the 2021 WHO classification [25]. Therefore, it would be interesting to explore this observation in more detail through larger studies.…”

Glioma lateralization: Focus on the anatomical localization and the distribution of molecular alterations (Review)

“…Recently, a broad meta-analysis has collected all the studies reporting the anatomical lateralization of glioma and GBM revealing no specific lateralization patterns in the right or left hemispheres. However, a clear relationship between tumor location in specific brain regions and glioma-associated symptoms were established ( 118 ). As regards the lateralization of glioma and GBM molecular features, more robust investigations on this specific topic are needed to establish lateralization patterns of mutations and epigenetics alterations.…”

Gut Dysbiosis Serine–Glycine Metabolism and Glioblastoma: Exploring Therapeutic Opportunities

“…Although most GBMs occur sporadically, some epidemiological studies have associated both environmental and genetic factors with disease risk [ 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92 ].…”