Title:A New Investigational Perspective for Purines Against Glioblastoma Invasiveness
Volume: 19
Issue: 16
Author(s): Patricia Giuliani, Mariachiara Zuccarini, Marzia Carluccio, Sihana Ziberi, Patrizia Di Iorio, Francesco Caciagli and Renata Ciccarelli*
Affiliation:
- Dept. of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences. University of Chieti-Pescara, via dei Vestini 29, 66100 Chieti,Italy
Keywords:
Glioblastoma multiforme, glioblastoma-derived stem cells, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), EMT
markers, adenine-based purines, purine receptors.
Abstract: Background: Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is the most common and lethal brain malignancy.
Recent evidence suggests that the presence of stem-like cells (GSCs) inside the tumor with
high self-renewal, resistance to chemotherapy and invasiveness/migration potential is associated with
poor GBM prognosis. GSC aggressiveness seems to be linked to an important process involved in tumorigenesis
and cancer metastasis called Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), which is responsible
for several biochemical changes and the acquisition of a more mesenchymal phenotype by
GSCs, that enhance their migration, invasiveness and resistance to apoptosis.
Objective: Since previous reports demonstrated that purines, interacting with their own receptors, exerted
anti-tumor effects in GBM and derived cells, we tried to investigate the ability of these compounds
to reduce tumor cell migration/invasion acting on EMT-associated genes/activators and/or signal
pathways.
Methods: Search in the literature of relevant articles related to the objective.
Results: Papers examining the activity of purines on EMT signaling pathways/markers in GSCs are
still few whereas literature is more abundant as for other kinds of tumors.
Conclusion: Considering the significance of EMT in GBM aggressiveness and the promising involvement
of purines in this process, we think that further research in this regard may open the way
towards a new therapeutic approach for the control of GBM invasiveness/recurrence.
