Title: Characterizing the Infiltrative and Core Glioblastoma Tumor Regions to Understand the Role of Cilia in Tumorigenesis

Author: Othneil Noble Sparks

Area of Concentration (Petal): Basic, Clinical, Translational Science Petal

Specialty (if any): Neurosurgery

Keywords: Immunofluorescence, Cilia, Glioblastoma Multiforme

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) has a high recurrence and mortality rate. Cilia, recently identified in the tumor microenvironment, have been proposed as a mechanism for GBM dedifferentiation and infiltration into normal brain parenchyma. However, little is known about cilia's differential expression in the tumor core and infiltrative regions.

Objective: To characterize the core and infiltrative GBM regions to understand how cilia drive tumor migration and aggressiveness.

Methods: GBM sections were immunostained with acetylated-alpha tubulin and gamma-tubulin (1:200 IHC) to label the axoneme and basal bodies, respectively. After blocking, sections were stained with DAPI, anti-mouse and anti-rabbit antibodies against acetylated alpha-tubulin and gamma-tubulin, respectively. Secondary antibodies were species-specific and conjugated with fluorescent tags (1:500 IHC). Tumor cells were controlled for by expressing cilia as a percentage.

Results: IHC results show cilia with gamma-tubulin (green) and acetylated-alpha tubulin (red) staining. 10 tumor samples were studied, with most cilia found in the GBM infiltrative region, except for two samples. 

Conclusions: The presence of more cilia in the infiltrative region suggests an important role in GBM migration and metastasis, making it a potential therapeutic target for tumor inhibition. Further research is needed to understand cilia’s role in driving tumorigenesis and metastasis.