Author Description

Gliomas, developing in the brain from the transformed glial cells, are a very special kind of tumors, extremely refractory to conventional treatments. Therefore, for the development of new antitumor strategies, a better understanding of molecular mechanisms responsible for their biology, growth and invasion is still needed. Glioma Signaling is a text reference on cellular signaling processes regulating gliomas physiology and invasiveness. The first half of the book is focused on the mechanism of nucleotide receptor activation by exogenous nucleotides. The remaining chapters deal with the formation of complex signaling cascades, including cytoplasmic transcription factors, induced by growth factors, cytokines and cannabinoids. The book provides a framework explaining how signal transduction elements may modulate glioma cytoskeleton structure, cytoplasmic calcium concentration, cellular growth, progression and invasion, as well as presents perspectives concerning potential targets for glioma therapy.