Presentation description

Glioblastoma, a particularly aggressive form of brain cancer, continues to have low patient survival rates despite advancements in cancer treatment. Research has revealed that these tumors often exist in a state of hypoxia, or low oxygen tension, which is common in various brain tumors including gliomas. This hypoxic environment leads to more aggressive tumor behavior, characterized by increased growth, invasion, and development, while also causing death of surrounding normal tissue. Central to this process are Hypoxia-Inducible Factors (HIFs), particularly HIF1α, which are overproduced and stabilized under low-oxygen conditions. HIF1α promotes tumor survival and growth by increasing glycolysis, a metabolic pathway that normal cells typically don't rely on heavily. This unique characteristic of cancer cells has made HIF1α an emerging target for potential cancer treatments. Given that normal cells don't generally require HIF1α, it presents an opportunity for targeted therapy. However, to fully understand the implications of such an approach, it's crucial to study how cancer cells adapt when HIF1α is inactivated.