Glioblastoma multiforme remains the most common and highly lethal brain cancer and is known for its ability to relapse. Researchers now have identified a pathway by which cancer cells aggressively spread and grow in the brain, opening up new possibilities for treatment.

Researchers developed a glioblastoma model to locate glioma stem cells, which, like all stem calls, have the ability to become other cell types. The researchers further found that the gene, WNT5A, when activated, allowed glioma stem cells to transition, leading to invasive tumor growth.

"We uncovered a process by which glioma stem cells mediated by the WNT5A gene become endothelial-like cells," said the author. "These new cells known as GdECs, recruit existing endothelial cells to form a niche supporting the growth of invasive glioma cells away from the primary tumor, and often leading to satellite "lesions" and disease recurrence."

Clinical data revealed higher WNT5A and GdECs expression in these satellite lesions and recurrent tumors than was observed in the primary tumors, affirming the tie between WNT5A-mediated stem cell differentiation and glioma cell spread throughout the brain, and contributing to the cancer's lethalness.

The study established WNT5A as a key factor in glioma stem cells transitioning to GdECs. The team believes this opens up the possibility for a new therapeutic strategy for patients with glioblastoma.

Recent clinical data show the FDA-approved drug, bevacizumab, did not benefit patients as a first line treatment of recurrent glioblastoma by targeting vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF). With this new information, the study team proposes an additional therapeutic approach targeting WNT5A and VEGF signaling pathways for recurrent glioblastoma.

https://www.mdanderson.org/newsroom/2016/11/study-reveals-new-in.html

http://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(16)31460-X