Biochemistry Laboratory Research Theme

The Problems

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is the most common and severe form of malignant tumor primarily occurring in the brain. It is a neuroglial-derived, WHO grade IV primary malignant brain tumor. GBM is known for its high-risk nature, with an average survival period of only 15 months, leading to about 93% of patients dying within 5 years.

The current standard treatment for GBM involves a combination of surgical intervention followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, due to the tumor's location characteristics, there are limitations to surgical intervention. Additionally, the efficacy of chemotherapy is reduced due to the brain-blood barrier, resulting in significantly lower treatment effectiveness compared to other types of cancer.

For these reasons, it is known that cancer often recurs within 18 months. Furthermore, 80% of GBM recurrences occur in the area that received the highest dose of radiation during surgery, suggesting a close association between radiotherapy and cancer recurrence.

Despite numerous studies over the past few years, no adjuvant drugs for radiotherapy have been developed. Therefore, it is crucial to clearly identify the mechanisms of radioresistance and discover drugs that can enhance the efficiency of radiotherapy.

The Solutions

The goal is to reduce the resistance of GBM to radiotherapy, thereby increasing the efficiency of radiotherapy, which is the standard treatment method. Radioresistant GBM shows a specific metabolic change known as 'Metabolic Rewiring'. This specific metabolic rewiring in radioresistant GBM further complicates the treatment.

Particularly, radioresistant GBM primarily depends on glucose and lipid metabolism. By utilizing these metabolic characteristics, these cells produce and reduce the amount of toxic substances within, thereby exhibiting resistance to treatment. Therefore, targeting glucose and lipid metabolism is a key strategy to enhance the efficiency of radiotherapy in GBM.

Additionally, GBM stem cells (GSCs) also influence resistance to radiation therapy. GSCs that survive post-radiotherapy are a major cause of recurrence. By targeting and inhibiting the characteristics of these GSCs, the efficiency of radiation therapy can be enhanced.

In line with this, our research team aims to elucidate the mechanisms behind the acquisition of radioresistance in GBM through metabolic rewiring and GSC. By developing innovative treatment strategies that counteract radioresistance, we hope to present new possibilities in the field of cancer treatment.