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Dynamic Reorganization of Microtubule and Glioma Invasion

Yoshihiro Otani1,2, Tomotsugu Ichikawa3, Kazuhiko Kurozumi2

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.yoshihiro00tani@gmail.com.

Acta Medica Okayama
|August 24, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Microtubules, essential for cell migration, are increasingly implicated in glioma invasion. Targeting these cytoskeletal components offers a promising new therapeutic strategy for diffuse infiltrating brain tumors.

Area of Science:

  • Neuro-oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Therapeutics

Background:

  • Gliomas are aggressive, diffuse infiltrating brain tumors with poor prognoses despite current treatments.
  • Recent research suggests neural stem cells may be the origin of gliomas, highlighting shared cellular mechanisms.
  • The cytoskeleton, particularly microtubules, plays a critical role in cell migration and is increasingly recognized in glioma invasion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanism of microtubule involvement in glioma invasion.
  • To explore the potential of microtubule-targeted therapies for inhibiting glioma cell invasion.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature on glioma genetics, epigenetics, and cell biology.
  • Analysis of the role of cytoskeletal components, specifically microtubules, in glioma invasion.
  • Examination of upregulated microtubule-associated factors in glioma tissues.

Main Results:

  • Microtubules are crucial for both normal cell and glioma cell migration.
  • Several factors regulating microtubule function are upregulated in glioma tissues.
  • Upregulation of these factors correlates with increased glioma cell invasiveness.

Conclusions:

  • Microtubules are key players in the invasive nature of gliomas.
  • Targeting microtubules presents a potential novel therapeutic avenue to combat glioma invasion and improve patient outcomes.
Keywords:
cytoskeletonsgliomainvasionmicrotubules

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