Glycomaterials to Investigate the Functional Role of Aberrant Glycosylation in Glioblastoma. Issue 4 (29th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tondepu, Chaitanya; Karumbaiah, Lohitash
• Other Names: Hudalla Gregory A. guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Advanced healthcare materials. Volume 11:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-12-29
• Subjects: extracellular matrix -- glioblastoma -- glycomaterials -- immunosuppression; Biomedical materials -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202101956
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2192-2640

Abstract

Abstract: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a stage IV astrocytoma that carries a dismal survival rate of ≈10 months postdiagnosis and treatment. The highly invasive capacity of GBM and its ability to escape therapeutic challenges are key factors contributing to the poor overall survival rate. While current treatments aim to target the cancer cell itself, they fail to consider the significant role that the GBM tumor microenvironment (TME) plays in promoting tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. The GBM tumor glycocalyx and glycan‐rich extracellular matrix (ECM), which are important constituents of the TME have received little attention as therapeutic targets. A wide array of aberrantly modified glycans in the GBM TME mediate tumor growth, invasion, therapeutic resistance, and immunosuppression. Here, an overview of the landscape of aberrant glycan modifications in GBM is provided, and the design and utility of 3D glycomaterials are discussed as a tool to evaluate glycan‐mediated GBM progression and therapeutic efficacy. The development of alternative strategies to target glycans in the TME can potentially unveil broader mechanisms of restricting tumor growth and enhancing the efficacy of tumor‐targeting therapeutics. Abstract : This review article provides a detailed overview of the landscape of aberrantly modified extracellular glycans in the glioblastoma (GBM) microenvironment and their roles in mediating tumor invasion, resistance, and immunosuppression. The article also discusses design strategies to incorporate physiologically relevant glycans in glycomaterial constructs that can be used to evaluate GBM progression and treatment response.