title: Targeting βIII-tubulin in glioblastoma multiforme: from cell biology and histopathology to cancer therapeutics.
abstract: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common, aggressive, and chemorefractory brain tumor in human adults. Notwithstanding significant discoveries in the elucidation of pathways of molecular signaling and genetics of GBM during the past 20 years there has been no breakthrough in the pharmacological treatment of this high-grade malignancy. We, and others, have previously demonstrated increased expression of βIII-tubulin in GBM asserting a link between aberrant expression of this β-tubulin isotype and a disruption of microtubule dynamics associated either with malignant tumor development de novo, or with progression and malignant transformation of a low-grade glioma into GBM. This article reviews βIII-tubulin as a promising target in the experimental treatment of GBM and examines the potential use of epothilones, a new family of anticancer agents shown to be active in βIII-tubulin-expressing tumor cells, as well as the "double hit" therapeutic concept of tumor cell sensitization to tubulin binding agents (TBAs) by βIII-tubulin silencing. The latest progress regarding the function and potential role of βIII-tubulin in aggressive tumor behavior, cancer stem cells, tumor cell hypoxia, and resistance to taxane-related compounds, is also critically appraised.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Christos.Katsetos@drexelmed.edu
authors.forename: Christos D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Katsetos
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Draber
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kavallaris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D050257:Tubulin Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C498585:TUBB3 protein, human; D014404:Tubulin; D050257:Tubulin Modulators