Glioblastoma Multiforme Causes & Risks

Causes

GBM originates from astrocytes, which are a type of glial cell. The factors that cause normal-functioning astrocytes to become cancerous is not well understood.

Risk Factors

These factors increase your chance of developing GBM. Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors:

• Sex: male (slightly more common in men that women)
• Age: over 50 years old
• Ethnicity: Caucasians, Latinos, Asians
• Having a low-grade astrocytoma (brain tumor), which occasionally develops into a higher-grade tumor
• Having one of the following genetic disorders is associated with an increased incidence of gliomas
  • Neurofibromatosis
  • Tuberous sclerosis
  • Von Hippel-Lindau disease
  • Li-Fraumeni syndrome
  • Turcot's syndrome
• Radiotherapy (association between high-dose ionizing radiation and astrocytoma)

There is inconsistent evidence that electromagnetic radiation and cell phone use are associated with this condition.