ELSC Seminar Series

The severity of brain tumors, particularly glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), represents a substantial challenge in cancer treatment due to their high morbidity and mortality rates. Despite decades of research and advancements in molecular characterization, traditional approaches focusing solely on cancer cells have failed to yield significant improvements in therapeutic outcomes. This highlights the necessity for innovative strategies that consider the tumor microenvironment as a potential target for intervention. Astrocytes are integral components of the brain’s milieu. They were originally known for maintaining the brain’s metabolic homeostasis but are increasingly recognized for their role in modulating neuroinflammation. We have recently found that Tumor-associated astrocytes play a dominant role in the context of tumor biology. Accordingly, we found that depletion of reactive astrocytes regresses glioblastoma and prolongs mouse survival. We identified that astrocytes control the tumor and its microenvironment by using “classical” immune signaling (e.g., Chemokines and cytokines) and intrinsic and extrinsic metabolic pathways. Building on these insights, a compelling argument exists for developing new therapeutic strategies targeting astrocyte immunometabolic signaling. We are exploring novel and repurposed therapeutic approaches to potentially disrupt the supportive role of astrocytes in GBM, opening avenues for more effective treatments.