Molecular and Cellular Biology of Glioblastoma: 2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

The first volume of the Special Issue “Molecular and Cellular Biology of Glioblastoma” can be found at: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/life/special_issues/Biology_Glioblastoma. We would like to open Volume II in 2023 for high-quality submissions in the Medical Research Section.

Over the past three decades, significant advancements have transformed the landscape of cancer treatment and patient prognoses. Notably, remarkable strides have been made in enhancing the survival rates for various cancer types, such as melanoma, prostate cancer, and breast cancer. However, the progress has been less pronounced for certain malignancies, like pancreatic and brain tumors, which have shown minimal improvement since the early 1970s. One particularly challenging and malignant brain tumor type is glioblastoma, originating from glial and astrocyte cells. Glioblastoma remains the most aggressive among brain tumors, with a median survival of merely 14 to 16 months post-diagnosis, even with comprehensive treatment strategies encompassing surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. The standard therapeutic approach for glioblastoma involves a combination of temozolomide (TMZ)-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy following surgical intervention. Regrettably, the efficacy of this approach is hampered by the rapid emergence of tumor recurrence, often within a short timeframe. This recurring tumor displays an escalating resilience to TMZ treatment cycles, leading to the development of drug resistance—an overarching challenge that undermines efforts to improve patient outcomes. While the DNA repair enzyme O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) was initially implicated in drug resistance within glioblastoma, recent studies have revealed that MGMT contributes to approximately 40% of recurrent glioblastoma cases. Intriguingly, MGMT-negative tumors can still develop drug resistance via mechanisms such as augmented DNA repair capabilities, enrichment of cancer stem cells, and heightened synthesis of neurosteroids.

However, the medical community still lacks a robust methodology or biomarker capable of predicting therapeutic response and anticipating the likelihood of tumor recurrence in glioblastoma cases. Moreover, the formidable blood–brain barrier poses a substantial hurdle, safeguarding brain tissue and shielding brain tumors from the effects of chemotherapeutic agents. This challenge further complicates the quest for effective drug discovery in the glioblastoma context. As a result, the pursuit of unraveling critical mechanisms and identifying novel biomarkers that underlie the acquisition of chemotherapeutic resistance in glioblastoma remains a pressing endeavor.

In summary, while advances in cancer treatment have brought about substantial improvements in many cancer types, the progress has been more modest for certain aggressive malignancies like glioblastoma. Overcoming the complexities of drug resistance, understanding intricate mechanisms, and pinpointing reliable biomarkers are pivotal areas where future research and medical efforts need to be directed to pave the way for more effective therapies and improved patient outcomes.

Dr. Tsung-I Hsu
Prof. Dr. Jian-Ying Chuang
Guest Editors

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