The Microenvironment in Glioma Invasion

Abstract

  Remarkable invasiveness is one of the major characteristics of glioma. When glioma develops, tumor cells have already reached a remote site in the brain, Therefore, it is impossible to remove all of the glioma cells by surgery alone. In recent years, new findings on glioma invasion have accumulated via advanced basic research. In particular, research on the tumor microenvironment has progressed. Local hypoxia is thought to be the strongest trigger for cell migration. Interaction between microglias and glioma cells positively promotes invasion. Various treatments for glioma change the microenvironment as glioma cells easily invade. These findings indicate that the tumor microenvironment can be a target for glioma invasion.