Active cell migration and invasion is a peculiar feature of glioma that makes this tumor able to rapidly infiltrate into the surrounding brain tissue. In our recent work, we identified a novel class of glioma-associated-stem cells (defined as GASC for high-grade glioma--HG--and Gasc for low-grade glioma--LG) that, although not tumorigenic, act supporting the biological aggressiveness of glioma-initiating stem cells (defined as GSC for HG and Gsc for LG) favoring also their motility. Migrating cancer cells undergo considerable molecular and cellular changes by remodeling their cytoskeleton and cell interactions with surrounding environment. To get a better understanding about the role of the glioma-associated-stem cells in tumor progression, cell deformability and interactions between glioma-initiating stem cells and glioma-associated-stem cells were investigated. Adhesion of HG/LG-cancer cells on HG/LG-glioma-associated stem cells was studied by time-lapse microscopy, while cell deformability and cell-cell adhesion strengths were quantified by indentation measurements by atomic force microscopy and single cell force spectroscopy. Our results demonstrate that for both HG and LG glioma, cancer-initiating-stem cells are softer than glioma-associated-stem cells, in agreement with their neoplastic features. The adhesion strength of GSC on GASC appears to be significantly lower than that observed for Gsc on Gasc. Whereas, GSC spread and firmly adhere on Gasc with an adhesion strength increased as compared to that obtained on GASC. These findings highlight that the grade of glioma-associated-stem cells plays an important role in modulating cancer cell adhesion, which could affect glioma cell migration, invasion and thus cancer aggressiveness. Moreover this work provides evidence about the importance of investigating cell adhesion and elasticity for new developments in disease diagnostics and therapeutics.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4229222 | PMC |
| http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0112582 | PLOS |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
The dual action of glioma-derived exosomes on neuronal activity: synchronization and disruption of synchrony.
Cell Death Dis
August 2022
International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), via Bonomea 265, Trieste, 34136, Italy.
Seizures represent a frequent symptom in gliomas and significantly impact patient morbidity and quality of life. Although the pathogenesis of tumor-related seizures is not fully understood, accumulating evidence indicates a key role of the peritumoral microenvironment. Brain cancer cells interact with neurons by forming synapses with them and by releasing exosomes, cytokines, and other small molecules.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIdentification of a Prognostic Microenvironment-Related Gene Signature in Glioblastoma Patients Treated with Carmustine Wafers.
Cancers (Basel)
July 2022
Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University Hospital of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Despite the state-of-the-art treatment, patients diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM) have a median overall survival (OS) of 14 months. The insertion of carmustine wafers (CWs) into the resection cavity as adjuvant treatment represents a promising option, although its use has been limited due to contrasting clinical results. Our retrospective evaluation of CW efficacy showed a significant improvement in terms of OS in a subgroup of patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImmunoregulatory effects of glioma-associated stem cells on the glioblastoma peritumoral microenvironment: a differential PD-L1 expression from core to periphery?
Neurosurg Focus
February 2022
1Institute of Neurosurgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Catholic University, Rome.
Objective: Glioma-associated stem cells (GASCs) have been indicated as possible players in supporting growth and recurrence in glioblastoma. However, their role in modulating immune response in the peritumoral area has not yet been described. In this study, the authors aimed to investigate programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) differential expression at the protein level in GASCs derived from different tumor areas (core, periphery, and surrounding healthy brain).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe miRNA Content of Exosomes Released from the Glioma Microenvironment Can Affect Malignant Progression.
Biomedicines
December 2020
Department of Medicine, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Low-grade gliomas (LGG) are infiltrative primary brain tumors that in 70% of the cases undergo anaplastic transformation, deeply affecting prognosis. However, the timing of progression is heterogeneous. Recently, the tumor microenvironment (TME) has gained much attention either as prognostic factor or therapeutic target.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeterogeneity Matters: Different Regions of Glioblastoma Are Characterized by Distinctive Tumor-Supporting Pathways.
Cancers (Basel)
October 2020
Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
The glioblastoma microenvironment plays a substantial role in glioma biology. However, few studies have investigated its spatial heterogeneity. Exploiting 5-ALA Fluorescence Guided Surgery (FGS), we were able to distinguish between the tumor core (ALA+), infiltrating area (ALA-PALE) and healthy tissue (ALA-) of the glioblastoma, based on the level of accumulated fluorescence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!