Scientific article
OA Policy
English

Characterizing and targeting glioblastoma neuron-tumor networks with retrograde tracing

Published inCell, vol. 188, no. 2, p. 390-411.e36
Publication date2025-01-23
First online date2024-12-06
Abstract

Glioblastomas are invasive brain tumors with high therapeutic resistance. Neuron-to-glioma synapses have been shown to promote glioblastoma progression. However, a characterization of tumor-connected neurons has been hampered by a lack of technologies. Here, we adapted retrograde tracing using rabies viruses to investigate and manipulate neuron-tumor networks. Glioblastoma rapidly integrated into neural circuits across the brain, engaging in widespread functional communication, with cholinergic neurons driving glioblastoma invasion. We uncovered patient-specific and tumor-cell-state-dependent differences in synaptogenic gene expression associated with neuron-tumor connectivity and subsequent invasiveness. Importantly, radiotherapy enhanced neuron-tumor connectivity by increased neuronal activity. In turn, simultaneous neuronal activity inhibition and radiotherapy showed increased therapeutic effects, indicative of a role for neuron-to-glioma synapses in contributing to therapeutic resistance. Lastly, rabies-mediated genetic ablation of tumor-connected neurons halted glioblastoma progression, offering a viral strategy to tackle glioblastoma. Together, this study provides a framework to comprehensively characterize neuron-tumor networks and target glioblastoma.

Keywords
  • Brain tumor networks
  • Brain tumors
  • Cancer neuroscience
  • Glioblastoma
  • Invasion
  • Neuron-to-glioma synapse
  • Retrograde tracing
  • Therapeutic rabies virus
  • Therapeutic resistance
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Glioblastoma / radiotherapy
  • Glioblastoma / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Animals
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Rabies virus
  • Mice
  • Synapses / metabolism
  • Female
  • Male
Citation (ISO format)
TETZLAFF, Svenja K et al. Characterizing and targeting glioblastoma neuron-tumor networks with retrograde tracing. In: Cell, 2025, vol. 188, n° 2, p. 390–411.e36. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.11.002
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Article (Published version)
Identifiers
Journal ISSN0092-8674
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