Title:Neuroinflammation in Glioblastoma: The Role of the Microenvironment
in Tumour Progression
Volume: 24
Issue: 6
Author(s): Ana Helena Larangeira Nóbrega, Rafael Sampaio Pimentel, Ana Paula Prado, Jenifer Garcia, Rudimar Luiz Frozza and Andressa Bernardi*
Affiliation:
- Laboratory of Inflammation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro/RJ,
Brazil
Keywords:
Glioblastoma, tumour microenvironment, neuroinflammation, TAMs, microglia, astrocytes.
Abstract: Glioblastoma (GBM) stands as the most aggressive and lethal among the main types of
primary brain tumors. It exhibits malignant growth, infiltrating the brain tissue, and displaying resistance
toward treatment. GBM is a complex disease characterized by high degrees of heterogeneity.
During tumour growth, microglia and astrocytes, among other cells, infiltrate the tumour microenvironment
and contribute extensively to gliomagenesis. Tumour-associated macrophages
(TAMs), either of peripheral origin or representing brain-intrinsic microglia, are the most numerous
nonneoplastic populations in the tumour microenvironment in GBM. The complex heterogeneous
nature of GBM cells is facilitated by the local inflammatory tumour microenvironment,
which mostly induces tumour aggressiveness and drug resistance. The immunosuppressive tumour
microenvironment of GBM provides multiple pathways for tumour immune evasion, contributing
to tumour progression. Additionally, TAMs and astrocytes can contribute to tumour progression
through the release of cytokines and activation of signalling pathways. In this review, we summarize
the role of the microenvironment in GBM progression, focusing on neuroinflammation. These
recent advancements in research of the microenvironment hold the potential to offer a promising
approach to the treatment of GBM in the coming times.