Palladin Regulates Invasion in Glioblastoma Multiforme Through Rho GTPases

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is one of the most fatal types of human cancers. GBM tumors exhibit significant heterogeneity and can arise through two distinct routes, forming what is known as primary glioblastoma and secondary glioblastoma. Palladin is a fairly recent protein that plays an important role in regulating actin and has been implicated in numerous cellular processes like adhesion, motility, invasion, and metastasis. Changes in palladin expression have also been observed in invasive tumors like breast and pancreatic cancer. In this study, we showed that palladin regulates the invasion of glioblastoma cells by affecting invadopodia formation. We also highlighted cross talks between palladin and Rho GTPases like Cdc42 and Rac1 that are also implicated in GBM invasion. This paper offers interesting insights into the role of palladin and Rho GTPases in the complex networks that drive the formation of invadopodia in glioblastoma multiforme, leading to invasion and subsequent metastasis.