Effects of Gas1 on gliomas: a review on current preclinical studies

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and lethal brain tumor. Its prognosis remains very poor, despite the use of combined treatments such as surgical resection, radiation and chemotherapy. The major limitations for the treatment of GBM are its high invasiveness, tumor recurrence and resistance to treatments. Therefore, gene therapy appears as a relevant strategy for its treatment. Thus, we have investigated the use of growth-arrest-specific 1 (Gas1) for the treatment of GBM. Gas1 is a tumor suppressor protein that inhibits glioma growth by inducing arrest and apoptosis of tumor cells. Moreover, we have shown that a soluble form of Gas1 acting in both autocrine and paracrine manners is also effective inhibiting tumor growth in animal models, indicating its potential as an adjuvant for the treatment of GBM.