SynthesisJournal of neuro-oncology2025
Defining end-of-life in glioblastoma multiforme: a systematic review.
Synthesis in Journal of neuro-oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Place and cause of death among people with chronic neurological diseases in Munich: a population-based study using death certificates.Neurological research and practice · 2026Article
- Incorporation and Repair of Epigenetic Intermediates as Potential Chemotherapy Agents.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundGlioblastoma multiforme is an incurable tumor with a poor prognosis, characterized by a median overall survival of only 15 months. A difficulty lies in identifying the end-of-life phase for individuals confronting both an incurable cancer and progressive neurological deterioration. The lack of a precise definition of this phase affects the reliability of research results on this topic. PURPOSE: To determine how the end-of-life phase is characterized and conceptualized in people with glioblastoma, and to identify precise identification criteria for future research and clinical application.
designSystematic review and narrative synthesis. DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Psych Info were systematically searched for relevant articles published until January 2025. Eligible studies included adults diagnosed with glioblastoma in the terminal palliative phase, along with their family caregivers or healthcare professionals. Quality assessment was performed.
resultsEighteen studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria, yet only eight provided definitional elements. Notably, these definitions varied considerably and lacked consensus. Furthermore, none of the studies referred to validated scales or scores for determining the end-of-life phase, nor did they aim to develop such measures.
conclusionThe lack of a standardized end-of-life definition in glioblastoma multiforme complicates clinical decision-making and research. A Delphi-based approach involving consultation with experts in the field is deemed imperative. A consensus is essential to improve prognostic accuracy, guide evidence-based interventions, optimize resource allocation, and foster ethical reflection.
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What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.