NORD's
Washington Office
 Read about events on Capitol Hill, funding for rare-disease research, and other topics of interest from NORD's office in Washington, DC.
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Copyright 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2007
NORD is very grateful to Amy B Heimberger, MD, Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, for assistance in the preparation of this report.
Synonyms of Glioblastoma Multiforme
- astrocytoma, grade IV
- GBM
Disorder Subdivisions
General Discussion
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common malignant primary brain tumor. These tumors are often aggressive and infiltrate surrounding brain tissue. GBMs arise from glial cells, which are cells that form the tissue that surrounds and protects other nerve cells found within the brain and spinal cord. GBMs are mainly composed of star-shaped glial cells known as astrocytes. The general term glioma includes any type of brain tumor such as astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma that arise from glial cells.
Astrocytomas are classified according to a grading system developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Astrocytomas come in four grades based upon how fast the cells are reproducing and that likelihood that they will infiltrate nearby tissue. Grades I or II astrocytomas are nonmalignant and may be referred to as low-grade. Grades III and IV astrocytomas are malignant and may be referred to as high-grade astrocytomas. Grade III astrocytomas are known as anaplastic astrocytomas. Grade IV astrocytomas are known as glioblastoma multiforme.
Organizations related to Glioblastoma Multiforme
- American Brain Tumor Association
2720 River Road
Suite 146
Des Plaines IL 60018
Phone #: 847-827-9910
800 #: 800-886-2282
e-mail: info@abta.org
Home page: http://www.abta.org
- American Cancer Society, Inc.
1599 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta GA 30329
Phone #: 404-320-3333
800 #: 800-227-2345
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.cancer.org
- Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation
P.O. Box 498
Kensington MD 20895-0498
Phone #: 301-962-3520
800 #: 800-366-2223
e-mail: staff@candlelighters,org
Home page: http://www.candlelighters.org
- Friends of Cancer Research
2231 Crystal Drive
Suite 200
Arlington VA 22202
Phone #: 703-302-1503
800 #: N/A
e-mail: info@focr.org
Home page: http://www.focr.org
- Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg MD 20898-8126
Phone #: 301-251-4925
800 #: 888-205-2311
e-mail: ordr@od.nih.gov
Home page: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/Default.aspx
- Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center
McLean Hospital
115 Mill Street
Belmont MA 02478
Phone #: 617-855-2400
800 #: 800-272-4622
e-mail: hbtrc@mclean.harvard.edu
Home page: http://www.brainbank.mclean.org
- Lance Armstrong Foundation
2201 E. Sixth Street
Austin TX 78702
Phone #: 512-236-8820
800 #: 877-236-8820
e-mail: media@livestrong.org
Home page: http://www.livestrong.org
- MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay WI 54301-1243
Phone #: 920-336-5333
800 #: 877-336-5333
e-mail: mums@netnet.net
Home page: http://www.netnet.net/mums/
- National Brain Tumor Society
124 Watertown Street, Suite 2D
Watertown MA 02472
Phone #: 617-924-9997
800 #: (80-0) -770-8287
e-mail: info@braintumor.org
Home page: http://www.braintumor.org
- National Cancer Institute
6116 Executive Blvd, MSC 8322, Room 3036A
Bethesda MD 20892-8322
Phone #: 301-435-3848
800 #: 800-422-6237
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.cancer.gov
- Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation
302 Ridgefield Court
Asheville NC 28806
Phone #: 828-665-6891
800 #: 800-253-6530
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.pbtfus.org
- Wellness Community
919 18th Street N.W.
Suite 54
Washington DC 20006
Phone #: 202-659-9709
800 #: 888-793-9355
e-mail: help@thewellnesscommunity.org
Home page: http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org
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