What is it about?
Glioblastoma (GB) is the most aggressive, lethal and frequent primary brain tumor. It is characterized by rapid expansion and the infiltration throughout healthy regions of the brain. GB cells interact with the cellular environment and healthy surrounding cells, mostly neurons and vessels and this cell-to-cell communication promotes GB growth and the degeneration of neurons.
Featured Image
Photo by Yassine Khalfalli on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Glioblastoma (GB) cells are resistant to current treatments and GB patients have a median survival of 15 months after diagnosis. GB cells that intercalate through the brain establish cell to cell contacts to communicate. We have discovered that these contacts are based on specific components known as synaptic proteins. We describe that GB cells also establish contacts with other GB cells (intratumoral) and these proteins are necessary for GB cells to expand and cause premature death.
Perspectives
Cell to cell communication in GB progression is a key aspect for GB progression. Therefore, the mechanisms that facilitate this communication require detailed study to search for novel anti-GB targets. These synaptic proteins are now a potential target to reduce GB progression and find a solution fo GB.
Sergio Casas Tintó
Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Synaptic components are required for glioblastoma progression in Drosophila, PLoS Genetics, July 2022, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010329.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
