A team of researchers, including a Polish scientist, has developed a mathematical model to simulate the growth and spread of glioblastoma, a crucial step toward better understanding this deadly brain cancer.
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive tumor of the central nervous system. Its infiltrative nature makes complete surgical removal impossible, and its growth and recurrence depend on the conditions within the tumor’s microenvironment during the early stages of development. In a recent study, an international team of scientists analyzed how these environmental factors influence GBM progression.
“We developed a mathematical model that takes into account the ploidy of cancer cells and the brain microenvironment, enabling us to simulate tumor growth and spread,” explains Dr. Zuzanna Nowicka from the Department of Biostatistics and Translational Medicine at the Medical University of Łódź, lead author of the study published in Cancer Research.
The Role of Ploidy in Glioblastoma Growth
Ploidy refers to the amount of genetic material within a cell. For example, human reproductive cells contain 23 chromosomes each. Upon fertilization, the genetic material doubles, resulting in somatic cells that contain 46 chromosomes—23 from each parent—forming a diploid genome (2n). Occasionally, chromosomal aberrations occur during fertilization, leading to conditions such as Down syndrome or Klinefelter syndrome, in which cells contain 47 chromosomes.
However, ploidy can change in certain cells throughout an organism’s life, often in association with harmful mutations contributing to cancer development. Some cancer cells may contain 48, 60, or even 92 chromosomes due to whole genome doubling (WGD), leading to a tetraploid genome (4n).
Researchers sought to investigate how ploidy influences the development of GBM. The more genetic material a cell has, the more energy it requires to sustain its functions. “Our research indicates that cells with high ploidy are more likely to shift to anaerobic metabolism because they are more sensitive to hypoxia,” comments Dr. Nowicka.
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The Impact of the Brain Microenvironment
Moreover, the recurrence rate of glioblastoma was found to depend on the brain’s microenvironment. “Our historical data analysis revealed that oxygen levels in an organ correlated with the typical ploidy of tumors arising in that organ,” explains Dr. Nowicka. In more oxygen-rich tissues, such as lung tissue, cancer cells with a higher chromosome count could survive. Conversely, in regions with low oxygen and nutrient availability, cancer cells maintained a lower ploidy.
“The findings suggest that the availability of nutrients in the brain affects the fate of cancer cells, influencing the growth and recurrence of GBM. This is an important step toward a better understanding of this lethal tumor and the development of more effective treatment strategies,” concludes Dr. Nowicka.
The Cancer Research article is the result of collaboration with an international group of researchers, including scientists from Moffitt Cancer Center (Florida), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (New York), and San Diego State University (California).
Ludwika Tomala (PAP)
Science in Poland
