Gliomas, developing in the brain from the transformed glial cells, are a very special kind of tumor, extremely refractory to conventional treatments. Therefore, for the development of new antitumor strategies, a better understanding of molecular mechanisms responsible for their biology, growth and invasion is still needed. This book is a reference on cellular signaling processes regulating gliomas physiology and invasiveness.

The work is focused on the mechanism of nucleotide receptor activation by exogenous nucleotides and formation of complex signaling cascades induced by growth factors, cytokines and cannabinoids. The second edition of the book enriched in new chapters provides a framework explaining how signal transduction elements may modulate numerous genetic and epigenetic alterations, describes the role of local microenvironment in cellular growth, progression and invasion and, in the light of extensive new results, presents perspectives concerning potential targets for gliomas therapy.

Gives updated as well as new chapters in this second edition Provides new data concerning gliomas invasion and progression Describes important topics concerning molecular mechanisms responsible for glioma physiology and pathology Compares the nature of calcium signals in glioma cells with that in astrocytes and microglia Explains the role of cytoplasmic transcription factors, as STAT and SMAD in glioma pathogenesis

Inhalt

Introduction to purinergic signaling in the brain.- Adenosine signaling in glioma cells .- Cross-talk in nucleotide signaling in glioma c6 cells.- Calcium signaling in glioma cells the role of nucleotide receptors.- Purinergic signaling in glioma progression.- Cytoskeleton and nucleotide signaling in glioma c6 cells.- Signaling determinants of glioma cell invasion.- Receptor tyrosine kinases: principles and functions in glioma invasion.- Recent advances in understanding mechanisms of tgf beta signaling and its role in glioma pathogenesis.- Stat signaling in glioma cells.- Cannabinoid signaling in glioma cells.- Effects of arginine and its deprivation on human glioblastoma physiology and signaling.- Histone modifying enzymes and chromatin modifiers in glioma pathobiology and therapy responses.- Role of infiltrating microglia/macrophages in glioma.