Brain Tumors: From Molecular Basis to Therapy: 2nd Edition

A Special Issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425) belonging to the section "Neuro-oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2027 | Viewed by 803

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Guest Editor
Radiation Oncology Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Viale Bracci 16, 53100 Siena, Italy
Interests: neuro-oncology; radiotherapy in CNS cancers; radiosurgery; bio-molecular prognostic factors
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The landscape of brain tumor research is rapidly evolving, driven by the urgent need to improve diagnosis, treatment and patient outcomes. Brain tumors, ranging from benign to highly malignant forms, present significant clinical challenges due to their complex biology and the critical nature of their location. Despite considerable advances in medical research, many aspects of brain tumor pathology, genetics and therapeutic response remain incompletely understood.

This Second Edition of the Special Issue aims to build upon the progress and insights generated by the previous volume, further addressing existing gaps by promoting a deeper understanding of the molecular underpinnings of brain tumors and translating these insights into innovative therapeutic strategies. By tackling key challenges such as tumor heterogeneity, resistance to conventional therapies and the limiting effects of the blood–brain barrier on drug delivery, we seek to foster breakthroughs that can ultimately transform patient care.

To advance knowledge and support the development of more effective treatments, this Special Issue will encompass a broad range of topics, including but not limited to:

  • Molecular and Genetic Basis of Brain Tumors: Investigations into genetic alterations, signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms driving tumor initiation and progression.
  • Innovative Diagnostic Techniques: Development and validation of novel biomarkers, imaging technologies and diagnostic tools aimed at improving early detection and accurate classification of brain tumors.
  • Therapeutic Advances: Exploration of cutting-edge treatments, including targeted therapies, immunotherapies and personalized medicine approaches tailored to individual tumor profiles.
  • Overcoming Therapeutic Resistance: Studies addressing mechanisms underlying resistance to current therapies and proposing strategies to overcome these barriers.
  • Drug Delivery Systems: Innovations designed to enhance the delivery of therapeutic agents across the blood–brain barrier, improving both efficacy and safety.
  • Clinical Trials and Translational Research: Reports on clinical trials, case studies and translational research bridging laboratory discoveries and clinical application.

We invite researchers, clinicians and scholars worldwide to contribute original research articles, review papers and case studies to this Special Issue. Your expertise and insights are essential for advancing our understanding of brain tumors and developing more effective therapies. By participating in this Special Issue, you will join a collaborative effort aimed at addressing some of the most pressing challenges in brain tumor research and treatment.

Dr. Paolo Tini
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • brain tumors
  • molecular pathways
  • targeted therapy
  • diagnostic biomarkers
  • predictive biomarkers
  • therapeutic resistance

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24 pages, 8056 KB  
Article
AMPAR Subunit Gene Expression Marks a Synaptic Transcriptional State in Lower-Grade Glioma
by Bruno Rodrigues, Matheus Dalmolin, Henrique Ritter Dal-Pizzol, Osvaldo Malafaia, Marcelo A. C. Fernandes, Karina Munhoz de Paula Alves Coelho, Rafael Roesler and Gustavo R. Isolan
Brain Sci. 2026, 16(8), 773; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci16080773 - 23 Jul 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 417
Abstract
Background: Glutamatergic neuron-to-glioma signaling mediated by α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPARs) has emerged as an important mechanism in glioma progression. Objectives/Methods: We analyzed the expression of the AMPAR subunit genes GRIA1, GRIA2, GRIA3, and GRIA4 in lower-grade glioma (LGG). Results: Expression [...] Read more.
Background: Glutamatergic neuron-to-glioma signaling mediated by α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPARs) has emerged as an important mechanism in glioma progression. Objectives/Methods: We analyzed the expression of the AMPAR subunit genes GRIA1, GRIA2, GRIA3, and GRIA4 in lower-grade glioma (LGG). Results: Expression of GRIA1GRIA4 was highest in IDH-mutant/1p19q-codeleted tumors and lowest in IDH-wildtype tumors across both The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) cohorts. High expression of each GRIA gene was associated with longer overall survival (OS). Transcriptome-wide analyses identified positive correlations between an AMPAR score and genes involved in synaptic organization, neuronal connectivity, and neurotransmission. Co-expression analyses demonstrated coordinated expression between GRIA1GRIA4 and genes encoding AMPAR auxiliary proteins. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment revealed overrepresentation of synaptic signaling, trans-synaptic communication, and synapse organization. Although the AMPAR score was associated with favorable survival in univariate analyses, it did not retain independent prognostic significance after adjustment for key clinicomolecular variables. Elevated expression of AMPAR subunit genes in LGG was associated with favorable molecular subtypes and a synaptic transcriptional program. Conclusions: These findings suggest that GRIA1GRIA4 expression is associated with a synaptically enriched transcriptional program in LGG, although its cellular origin remains uncertain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Brain Tumors: From Molecular Basis to Therapy: 2nd Edition)
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