Topic Editors

Dr. Maria Patrizia Stoppelli
Institute of Genetics and Biophysics Adriano Buzzati Traverso, Naples, Italy
Dr. Luca Colucci-D'Amato
Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neuropathology, Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy
Experimental Pathology and Oncology Section of the Department of Clinical and Experimental Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Viale GB Morgagni 50, 50134 Firenze, Italy

Brain Cancer Stem Cells and Their Microenvironment

Abstract submission deadline
31 October 2025
Manuscript submission deadline
31 December 2025
Viewed by
188

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Glioblastoma (GBM) is among the deadliest type of human cancer; it is highly refractory to therapy, with an extremely poor prognosis. Tumor growth, recurrence and intratumoral heterogeneity are sustained by cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs drive resistance to pharmacological and radiation therapies, therefore being a key target in GBM. CSCs are located within niches, whose complex microenvironment allows unrestricted proliferation, survival, invasion, heterogeneity and immunosuppression, thus contributing to tumor aggressiveness and resilience. To model the cellular interactions in the context of a tumor microenvironment (TME), CSCs can be cultured in aggregates like organoids or spheroids as specific 3D patient-derived GBM cultures. The challenges, advances, limitations and future perspectives, together with the link with personalized therapies, will be taken into account in this Special Issue. Because GBM proliferation is supported by intense metabolic activity, various mechanisms ensure this high energy supply. In particular, the GSC population is metabolically dynamic, being able to switch between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. On the whole, hypoxia and acidosis not only play a crucial role in promoting metabolic reprogramming in CSCs but also drive therapeutic resistance. Among several mechanisms underlying new vessel formation in GBM, vasculogenic mimicry (VM) supports tumor development, establishment and resistance to antiangiogenic therapies. VM is a TME-sustained process by which new vessel-like structures are generated following the trans-differentiation of CSCs. Mounting evidence indicates that an intense crosstalk between GBM and neural cells exerts an important role in cancer pathogenesis. As a matter of fact, the enriched environment ameliorates the clinical survival of mice with glioma via immunological and BDNF-mediated mechanisms. Notably, different cell types, beyond GBM cells, are known to exert a crucial role in GBM onset, development and aggressiveness. These include, but are not limited to, the tumor associated macrophages/microglial cells (TAM cells), astrocytes, endothelial cells, pericytes, immune cells, etc. In particular, TAM cells greatly contribute to sustaining an immunosuppressive environment. This Special Issue will include both original research articles and reviews. Studies carried out using in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo models are welcome.

Dr. Maria Patrizia Stoppelli
Dr. Luca Colucci-D'Amato
Dr. Francesca Bianchini
Topic Editors

Keywords

  • glioblastoma stem cells
  • tumor microenvironment
  • neuron-glia crosstalk
  • extracellular matrix
  • metabolic reprogramming
  • developmental and regenerative biology
  • vasculogenic mimicry
  • organoid and 3D culture
  • signalling mechanisms

Participating Journals

Journal Name Impact Factor CiteScore Launched Year First Decision (median) APC
Biomolecules
biomolecules
4.8 9.4 2011 16.3 Days CHF 2700 Submit
Cancers
cancers
4.5 8.0 2009 16.3 Days CHF 2900 Submit
Diseases
diseases
2.9 0.8 2013 18.9 Days CHF 1800 Submit
Neurology International
neurolint
3.2 3.7 2009 22.1 Days CHF 1600 Submit
Biomedicines
biomedicines
3.9 5.2 2013 15.3 Days CHF 2600 Submit

Preprints.org is a multidiscipline platform providing preprint service that is dedicated to sharing your research from the start and empowering your research journey.

MDPI Topics is cooperating with Preprints.org and has built a direct connection between MDPI journals and Preprints.org. Authors are encouraged to enjoy the benefits by posting a preprint at Preprints.org prior to publication:

  1. Immediately share your ideas ahead of publication and establish your research priority;
  2. Protect your idea from being stolen with this time-stamped preprint article;
  3. Enhance the exposure and impact of your research;
  4. Receive feedback from your peers in advance;
  5. Have it indexed in Web of Science (Preprint Citation Index), Google Scholar, Crossref, SHARE, PrePubMed, Scilit and Europe PMC.

Published Papers

This Topic is now open for submission.
Back to TopTop