Glioblastoma: Defining Tumor Niches

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Dolores Hambardzumyan, Emory University; Gabriele Bergers, University of California, San Francisco
• Language: English
• Date: 2015-12-01
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2015 Elsevier Inc.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.trecan.2015.10.009
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Trends in Cancer
• ISSN: 2405-8033
• Volume: 1
• Issue: 4
• Start Page: 252
• End Page: 265
• Grant/Funding Information: The study was supported by funds from the National Cancer Institute to GB (U54 CA163155 and R01 CA188404) and DH (U01 CA160882 and seed money from Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center).
• Keywords: cancer stem cells; microglial cells; tumor vasculature; therapy; GBM; tumor niches; astrocytes; tumor microenvironment; macrophages
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Oncology; Biology, Neuroscience

Abstract

Glioblastomas (glioblastoma multiforme, GBM) are one of the most recalcitrant brain tumors because of their aggressive invasive growth and resistance to therapy. They are highly heterogeneous malignancies at both the molecular and histological levels. Specific histological hallmarks including pseudopalisading necrosis and microvascular proliferation distinguish GBM from lower-grade gliomas, and make GBM one of the most hypoxic as well as angiogenic tumors. These microanatomical compartments present specific niches within the tumor microenvironment that regulate metabolic needs, immune surveillance, survival, and invasion, as well as cancer stem cell (CSC) maintenance. We review here the features and functions of the distinct GBM niches, detail the different cell constituents and the functional status of the vasculature, and discuss prospects of therapeutically targeting GBM niche constituents.