A New Investigational Perspective for Purines Against Glioblastoma Invasiveness

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.

Keywords: EMT markers; Glioblastoma multiforme; adenine-based purines; epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT); glioblastoma-derived stem cells; purine receptors..