**Meet the editor**

Dr. Farassati was trained as a Molecular Oncologist and Cancer Gene Therapist at the University of Calgary, Harvard Medical School and Mayo Clinic. His Research is mainly focused on understanding the features of pro-oncogenic cell signaling events in cancer cells and utilizing this knowledge to design gene and drug therapy strategies to target them. He currently directs

the Molecular Medicine Laboratory at the University of Kansas Medical Center (Kansas City, KS, USA) where a group of clinicians and scientists study a range of human malignancies including brain tumors in adults and children under his leadership. Concepts pursued by this team to target brain tumors include gene therapy strategies using oncolytic viruses, identification and intervention with novel cell signaling pathways involved in generation of brain malignancies and designing gene therapy strategies to target cancer stem cells.

Contents

**Preface IX** 

and Ania Pollack

Terrance Johns

**Part 1 Surgical Therapy of Glioma 1** 

**Part 2 EGFR and Glioma Therapy 25** 

Chapter 3 **Future Perspectives of Enhancing** 

Chapter 4 **MicroRNA and Glial Tumors:** 

Ondrej Slaby

Iris Lavon

Chapter 6 **Molecular Targets:** 

Chapter 1 **Innovative Surgical Management of Glioma 3**  Dave Seecharan, Faris Farassati

Chapter 2 **Advances in the Development of EGFR Targeted** 

**Therapies for the Treatment of Glioblastoma 27** 

**the Therapeutic Efficacy of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibition in Malignant Gliomas 43** 

Georg Karpel-Massler and Marc-Eric Halatsch

**Tiny Relation with Great Potential 59** 

**Part 4 Inhibition of Invasion in Treatment of Glioma 89** 

Raquel Brandão Haga and Silvya Stuchi Maria-Engler

**Inhibition of Tumor Cell Invasion 91** 

**Part 3 MicroRNAs in Treatment of Glioma 57** 

Jiri Sana, Marian Hajduch and

**and Their Potential Applications for Diagnosis and Treatment 75** 

Chapter 5 **The Role of microRNAs in Gliomas** 

## Contents

#### **Preface XI**

**Part 1 Surgical Therapy of Glioma 1**  Chapter 1 **Innovative Surgical Management of Glioma 3**  Dave Seecharan, Faris Farassati and Ania Pollack **Part 2 EGFR and Glioma Therapy 25**  Chapter 2 **Advances in the Development of EGFR Targeted Therapies for the Treatment of Glioblastoma 27**  Terrance Johns Chapter 3 **Future Perspectives of Enhancing the Therapeutic Efficacy of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibition in Malignant Gliomas 43**  Georg Karpel-Massler and Marc-Eric Halatsch **Part 3 MicroRNAs in Treatment of Glioma 57**  Chapter 4 **MicroRNA and Glial Tumors: Tiny Relation with Great Potential 59**  Jiri Sana, Marian Hajduch and Ondrej Slaby Chapter 5 **The Role of microRNAs in Gliomas and Their Potential Applications for Diagnosis and Treatment 75**  Iris Lavon **Part 4 Inhibition of Invasion in Treatment of Glioma 89**  Chapter 6 **Molecular Targets: Inhibition of Tumor Cell Invasion 91**  Raquel Brandão Haga and Silvya Stuchi Maria-Engler

#### X Contents


	- **Part 8 Antioxidant Adaptive Response in Glioma 245**
	- **Part 9 TRP Channels in Glioma Therapy 263**

## Preface

Brain, the source of human's ingenuity, passion, motivation and emotions holds a world of mystery and promises for scientists, biologists, physicians, philosophers and poets! It is, therefore, not surprising that Gliomas, as the most common form of the malignant brain tumors, impose such a strong impact on our society at different levels.

Despite a series of significant improvements in our understanding about the molecular etiology of Gliomas, the road lays long in front of us to reach the ultimate goal of elimination of the burden delivered to human health by these deadly diseases. But, in this mix, there are also good news: First, the rate of malignant brain tumors in men seems to be declining. Secondly, the overall incidence rate of Glioblastomas has been stable suggesting that external risk factors may not influence the origination of these malignancies\* .

*Novel Therapeutic Concepts for Targeting Glioma* offers a comprehensive collection of current information and the upcoming possibilities for designing new therapies for Glioma by an array of experts ranging from Cell Biologists to Oncologists and Neurosurgeons. A variety of topics cover therapeutic strategies based on Cell Signaling, Gene Therapy, Drug Therapy and Surgical methods providing the reader with a unique opportunity to expand and advance his knowledge of the field.

We remain grateful to the efforts of our colleagues at *INTECH* for providing such an accessible and efficient platform for dissemination of science. Our hopes are raised and our spirits are lifted because of endeavors of the people who not only seek but one day will deliver human race's freedom from Cancer.

**Faris Farassati, PhD, PharmD**,

Department of Medicine-Molecular Medicine Laboratory The University Of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA

<sup>\*</sup> *Kohler BA, Ward E, McCarthy BJ, Schymura MJ, Ries LAG, Eheman C, Jemal A, Anderson RA, Ajani UA, Edwards BK. Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2007, Featuring Tumors of the Brain and Other Nervous System. JNCI; May 4, 2011.*

**Part 1** 

**Surgical Therapy of Glioma** 
