Open AccessMesenchymal Transformation: The Rosetta Stone of Glioblastoma Pathogenesis and Therapy Resistance
Author(s) -
Azam Zulfikar,
TO ShingShun Tony,
Tannous Bakhos A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.202002015
Subject(s) - mesenchymal stem cell , glioblastoma , transformation (genetics) , pathogenesis , cancer research , medicine , biology , pathology , gene , genetics
Despite decades of research, glioblastoma (GBM) remains invariably fatal among all forms of cancers. The high level of inter‐ and intratumoral heterogeneity along with its biological location, the brain, are major barriers against effective treatment. Molecular and single cell analysis identifies different molecular subtypes with varying prognosis, while multiple subtypes can reside in the same tumor. Cellular plasticity among different subtypes in response to therapies or during recurrence adds another hurdle in the treatment of GBM. This phenotypic shift is induced and sustained by activation of several pathways within the tumor itself, or microenvironmental factors. In this review, the dynamic nature of cellular shifts in GBM and how the tumor (immune) microenvironment shapes this process leading to therapeutic resistance, while highlighting emerging tools and approaches to study this dynamic double‐edged sword are discussed.