microRNAs (miRNAs) in Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM)—Recent Literature Review

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common, malignant, poorly promising primary brain tumor. GBM is characterized by an infiltrating growth nature, abundant vascularization, and a rapid and aggressive clinical course. For many years, the standard treatment of gliomas has invariably been surgical treatment supported by radio- and chemotherapy. Due to the location and significant resistance of gliomas to conventional therapies, the prognosis of glioblastoma patients is very poor and the cure rate is low. The search for new therapy targets and effective therapeutic tools for cancer treatment is a current challenge for medicine and science. microRNAs (miRNAs) play a key role in many cellular processes, such as growth, differentiation, cell division, apoptosis, and cell signaling. Their discovery was a breakthrough in the diagnosis and prognosis of many diseases. Understanding the structure of miRNAs may contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of cellular regulation dependent on miRNA and the pathogenesis of diseases underlying these short non-coding RNAs, including glial brain tumors. This paper provides a detailed review of the latest reports on the relationship between changes in the expression of individual microRNAs and the formation and development of gliomas. The use of miRNAs in the treatment of this cancer is also discussed.

STAT3 phosphorylation inhibitor Bt354 exhibits anti‐neoplastic activity in glioblastoma multiforme cells

“…The most common form of malignant glial tumor of the CNS is GBM, accounting for 45.6% of primary malignant brain tumors. 43 Current treatment strategies combine surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and antiangiogenic therapy. 44 Complete surgical removal of GBM tumors is not feasible owing to the presence of GBM cells in critical parts of the brain that control perception, speech, and motor activities.…”

“…The most common form of malignant glial tumor of the CNS is GBM, accounting for 45.6% of primary malignant brain tumors 43 . Current treatment strategies combine surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and antiangiogenic therapy 44 .…”

The hidden architects of glioblastoma multiforme: Glioma stem cells

“…miR‐9 is also associated with EGFR alterations (EGFRvIII), thus helps regulates growth and apoptosis of GBM cells, which are conferred by the latter. Stemness markers like SOX2, BMI, NANOG, and Nestin were inhibited by the overexpression of miR‐124 and miR‐128 , thus potentiating its role in suppression of tumor stemness 198 . Similarly, miR‐34a also inhibits expression of regulators like c‐Met, Notch 1 , and Notch 2 in GSCs, thus exerting tumor suppressive events in GSCs.…”

“…Stemness markers like SOX2, BMI, NANOG, and Nestin were inhibited by the overexpression of miR-124 and miR-128, thus potentiating its role in suppression of tumor stemness. 198 Similarly, miR-34a also inhibits expression of regulators like c-Met, Notch 1, and Notch 2 in GSCs, thus exerting tumor suppressive events in GSCs. On the contrary, inhibitors of mir-582-5p and miR-363 target caspase-3/9 and Bim, thus reducing cell growth and inducing apoptosis.…”

Use of microRNAs as Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Tools for Glioblastoma

“…Particularly in GB, the expression pattern of several miRNAs has been detected to be altered not only due to transcriptional defects or errors in their multistep biogenesis process but also due to genomic rearrangements, such as chromosomal translocations, insertions, and deletions involving genomic loci, in which, sometimes, there are miRNA genes [ 1 , 12 , 50 ]. As a result, several studies have applied genomics and deep sequencing techniques to analyze miRNA expression patterns in GB; actually, there is a vast number of miRNAs described to be either upregulated or downregulated mostly in in vitro models of GB, including several human and rat GB-derived cell lines [ 1 , 5 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 29 , 51 ].…”