HMN 2025: How access to specialized cancer centers affects glioblastoma outcomes

Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive and complex brain cancers. It grows quickly, resists standard treatments, and often leaves patients and their families searching for every possible option.

“We don’t yet know why it happens,” says Rachna Malani, MD, Huntsman Cancer Institute investigator, assistant professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Utah, and co-author of the study. “The brain is a protected area, and this cancer constantly changes. That makes it especially hard to treat.”

A new study from Huntsman Cancer Institute researchers looked at how far patients live from a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center—and how that distance affects survival and access to clinical trials for glioblastoma patients. The study is published in the journal Neurology.

Distance and survival: What the study found

The study analyzed data from 167 patients diagnosed with glioblastoma between 2018 and 2022 who received treatment at Huntsman Cancer Institute. Patients were grouped by how far they lived from the center:

• Near: 0–25 miles
• Intermediate: 25–40 miles
• Far: more than 40 miles

When researchers adjusted for age, health, and other known factors, they found that patients living farther away were less likely to enroll in clinical trials—and in some cases, had slightly poorer survival outcomes.

• Clinical trial enrollment: 43% for near patients, 35% for intermediate, and only 18% for those farthest away.
• Survival: Patients in the intermediate group had significantly worse overall survival compared to those living nearby.

“These findings show that distance can directly affect outcomes,” says Malani. “It’s not just about the tumor—it’s about the barriers patients face when they live far from the care they need.”

Why clinical trials matter for glioblastoma

Clinical trials are often the most promising avenue for glioblastoma patients. “This is a cancer that doesn’t have the best treatments yet,” says Joe Mendez, MD, neuro-oncologist at Huntsman Cancer Institute and associate professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Utah, and co-author of the study. “Current standard therapies may only extend survival by a few months. Clinical trials are how we improve those outcomes.”

Trials also give patients access to the latest research-backed treatments and additional layers of support. “Participating in a clinical trial doesn’t mean you’re a test subject—it means you’re receiving personalized care from a multi-disciplinary team working to help you treat your cancer and keep you safe, while advancing the field,” Mendez adds.

This study is one of the first to quantify how distance from a Comprehensive Cancer Center affects glioblastoma outcomes and trial participation. For patients, it underscores the importance of seeking care at specialized centers. For health systems, it highlights the need to expand clinical trial access beyond major cities.

In addition to this research, two medical students and Randy Jensen, MD, Ph.D., co-leader of the Neurologic Cancers Center at Huntsman Cancer Institute, recently published a study in Neuro-Oncology Practice that examined the effect of rurality and socioeconomic status on treatment and survival of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

We found that patients from frontier Utah experience greater socioeconomic barriers without experiencing poorer overall survival, and patients of lower socioeconomic status experienced significantly lower access to adjuvant therapies after resection,” adds Jensen.

“Our goal is to make comprehensive cancer care—and the hope that comes with it—available to everyone,” says Mendez. “Huntsman Cancer Institute has chosen to invest in specialists, research infrastructure, and multidisciplinary teams that all focus on one thing: giving patients the best possible chance.”

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