Targeting System Xc SXc Antiporter against Glioma Cancer

Abstract

The central nervous system (CNS) ensures normal functioning of the body through its neuronal network. Tumours of CNS are the malignancies associated with neuronal loss followed by disturbances in conductions of regular activities. These tumours can vary in malignancy, but even so-called benign tumours are commonly lethal because of their infiltrating properties along with tendency to undergo malignant transformation over time (Behin et al, 2003). Symptoms of these tumours depend upon the location of tumour which includes headaches, seizures, problem with aura, vomiting, and mental changes. Approximately, 2 % malignancies are CNS tumours amongst several types of tumours. In India, 5 to 10 adults per 100,000 population have been diagnosed with CNS tumours (Dasgupta et al, 2016). newlineThe world health organisation (WHO) has further classified (depending upon histological features) gliomas in four different grades including, i) Pilocytic astrocytoma, ii) Astrocytoma, oligodendroglima and oligoastrocytoma iii) Anaplastic astrocytoma, anaplastic oligodendroglima and anaplastic oligoastrocytoma, and iv) Glioblastoma multiforme (Louis et al, 2007). newlineAmongst different grades of brain tumours, our study focuses on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). It is most malignant neoplasm with high occurrence rate (59.7%) when compared to other human primary brain tumours (Dasgupta et al, 2016). Moreover, GBM more easily infiltrate to normal brain tissues in vicinity preventing its complete irradiation by surgery. Furthermore, GBM is invariably resistant to conventional chemotherapy and radiation, rendering it one the most deadly human cancers. The median survival rate of GBM patients is 12 months which is unchanged since long (Zhu and Parada, 2002; Furnari et al, 2007; Louis et al, 2007).It is therefore necessary to have novel treatment options based on proper understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying gliomagenesis. As reported earlier, glioblastoma cells depend upon certain amino acids for survival and to metastasise.