Candece Gladson, MD

Inhibition of angiogenesis in glioblastoma by targeting EGFR-Integrin alpha3beta1 crosstalk

Glioblastoma tumor (GBM), the most common malignant brain tumor in adults, is characterized by new blood vessel formation, also known as angiogenesis. The median survival for patients with GBM is 15-18 months, despite surgical resection, chemotherapy and radiation, as well as the addition of current drugs that aim to block new blood vessels. New therapy is desperately needed for GBM! Our preliminary data indicate there are increased levels of a molecule on the surface of new blood vessel lining cells in GBM tumors that has been named- integrin α3β1. This integrin α3β1 causes increased eating and drinking by the new blood vessel lining cells, and this increased eating and drinking leads to new blood vessel formation. Also, our preliminary data indicate that stimulation of normal brain blood vessel lining cells with a specific “candy” or growth factor (known as EGF) can cause the normal brain blood vessel lining cells to function like the blood vessel lining cells in the GBM tumor. Thus, these normal brain blood vessel lining cells when stimulated with this “candy” or EGF can be used as a model to study the enhanced blood vessel formation found in GBM tumors.