Tumor areas often changed size during radiation for glioblastoma
Original title: Early target volume dynamics during MR-guided radiotherapy for glioblastoma: first results from the prospective MARGA-I trial.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was tested in people. That is the most reliable kind of research we share.
This study only watched scans in people. It did not test a treatment.
The short version
Scans taken during radiation showed the treated area often changed size.
What was studied. Doctors treated 25 people who had glioblastoma: A glioma that is given grade 4, the highest grade. It grows fast. Treatment usually starts soon after it is found. It often means surgery, then radiation and chemotherapy. See the glossary on a special machine that joins MRI with radiation. Each person was scanned before treatment and again every fifth session to track size.
What they found. Scans from the radiation machine matched regular MRI scans closely. The surgery area and any leftover tumor grew a lot in 59% of patients. It got much smaller in 27%, and barely changed in 14%. A swollen area seen on another scan type grew a lot in 79% of patients. Big changes happened early for some people and late for others.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: The treated area may change size while you are getting radiation. Scans during treatment can catch those changes. Doctors could then think about adjusting the radiation plan as they go.
What it doesn't mean: This is not a new treatment, and it is not a cure. It was an early study in 25 people at one center. It only measured size on scans. It did not show that changing the plan helps people live longer or feel better. This is not part of everyday care today.
Source: PubMed, October 4, 2026 · Read the original
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