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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Journal of the National Cancer Center

Hijacking of neural circuits by malignant glioma: mechanistic insights and clinical implications

  • Eduarda P. Martins1
  • Helena M. Figueiredo1
  • Nuno Sousa2
  • Bruno M. Costa3
  1. 1Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B’s - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
  2. 2Clinical Academic Center Braga (2CA-Braga), Braga, Portugal; Centro Universitário Max-Planck (UniMAX), Indaiatuba, Brasil; Centro Universitário de Jaguariúna (UniFAJ), Jaguariúna, Brasil
  3. 3Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B’s - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; Corresponding author.
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Abstract

Glioblastoma and other malignant gliomas are characterized by high heterogeneity that drives their aggressiveness and contributes to poor clinical outcomes. Understanding the mechanisms behind glioma malignancy, as well as the crosstalk between these tumors and their microenvironment, may hold transformative clinical relevance. Recent findings show that glioblastoma cells interact in bidirectional and multimodal crosstalk with the neuronal compartment of the microenvironment. While the knowledge on these complex interactions is still limited, it is now clear that dynamic communications include responses to neuronal activity-dependent molecules, synaptic signaling, and remodeling of neural circuits. Together, these direct and indirect dialogues promote glioma cells proliferation and invasion, effectively hijacking neuronal activity to fuel tumor aggressiveness. This review focuses on the bidirectional interaction between neurons and malignant glioma cells, highlighting its clinical relevance and potential to guide the development of novel precision therapies specifically targeting the glioma-neuron crosstalk.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{martins2026hijacking,
  title = {{Hijacking of neural circuits by malignant glioma: mechanistic insights and clinical implications}},
  author = {Eduarda P. Martins and Helena M. Figueiredo and Nuno Sousa and Bruno M. Costa},
  journal = {Journal of the National Cancer Center},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.1016/j.jncc.2026.05.002},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jncc.2026.05.002},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Hijacking of neural circuits by malignant glioma: mechanistic insights and clinical implications
AU  - Eduarda P. Martins
AU  - Helena M. Figueiredo
AU  - Nuno Sousa
AU  - Bruno M. Costa
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/03
JO  - Journal of the National Cancer Center
DO  - 10.1016/j.jncc.2026.05.002
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jncc.2026.05.002
AB  - Glioblastoma and other malignant gliomas are characterized by high heterogeneity that drives their aggressiveness and contributes to poor clinical outcomes. Understanding the mechanisms behind glioma malignancy, as well as the crosstalk between these tumors and their microenvironment, may hold transformative clinical relevance. Recent findings show that glioblastoma cells interact in bidirectional and multimodal crosstalk with the neuronal compartment of the microenvironment. While the knowledge on these complex interactions is still limited, it is now clear that dynamic communications include responses to neuronal activity-dependent molecules, synaptic signaling, and remodeling of neural circuits. Together, these direct and indirect dialogues promote glioma cells proliferation and invasion, effectively hijacking neuronal activity to fuel tumor aggressiveness. This review focuses on the bidirectional interaction between neurons and malignant glioma cells, highlighting its clinical relevance and potential to guide the development of novel precision therapies specifically targeting the glioma-neuron crosstalk.
SN  - 2667-0054
SN  - 2096-8663
ER  -