Brain cancer: from concepts to therapies
Our research is focused on the most malignant and frequently occurring primary brain tumor, human glioblastoma.
The Brain Tumor & Microenvironment Research Group is part of the Translational Cancer and Vascular Unit.
Glioblastomas are highly malignant and invasive primary brain tumors that maintain close communication with their microenvironment. In our research group, we investigate the mechanisms through which tumor cells interact with each other and their surrounding microenvironment. Our findings have demonstrated that mitochondria can be transferred from normal astrocytes to tumor cells, promoting tumor growth and enhancing oxidative metabolism:
GAP43-dependent mitochondria transfer from astrocytes enhances glioblastoma tumorigenicity
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37169842/
Stopping a tumor's 'cellular looting' may help treatment for brain cancers
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/mitochondria-tumor-cell-brain-cancer-treatment-glioblastoma
Basic Researchers Discover Possible Target for Treating Brain Cancer
https://directorsblog.nih.gov/tag/mitochondria-transfer/
Mitochondria transfer occurs through cytoplasmic extensions known as microtubes (MTs), which form connections between tumor cells and also link normal astrocytes to tumor cells, creating an extensive communication network. Our current research focuses on unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying this network and its role in driving treatment resistance.
Another key focus of our group is the immune microenvironment, specifically examining how cancer cell death influences immune responses within this environment.
Principal Investigator: Hrvoje Miletic. Visit his personal page.