Role of inflammatory pathway and cells on glioma cell response to chemotherapy

The inflammatory pathway molecule STAT3 has previously been linked to chemotherapy resistance in glioma tumors. More specifically, we have found that a subset of glioma cells, glioblastoma cancer stem cells (gCSCs) play an integral role in the micro tumor environment that may be primarily responsible for this characteristic. Following STAT3 silencing through siRNA transfection, combined with chemotherapeutic treatments, drug efficacy was shown to have increased minimally in a 3D spheroid model. Additionally, transwell migration assays indicate that soluble factors produced by macrophages increase gCSC motility. Through the investigation of STAT3 silencing in an engineered tumor model and the migratory characteristics of the heterogeneous glioma population, we further understand the role both the inflammatory molecule STAT3 and the primary inflammatory cells play in the increased drug resistance and migration of glioma tumors.