Glioblastoma IDH wild type (GB), the most common malignant primary brain tumor, is characterized by rapid proliferation, extensive infiltration into surrounding brain tissue, and significant resistance to current therapies. Median survival is only 15 months despite extensive clinical efforts. The tumor microenvironment (TME) in GB is highly specialized, supporting the tumor’s aggressive behavior and its ability to evade conventional treatments. One critical component is the aberrant vascular network that complicates the delivery of chemotherapy across the blood–brain barrier. Antiangiogenic therapies emerged as a promising option but have shown limited efficacy in extending the survival of these patients. Comprehension of the complex vascular network of GB may be a key to overcoming the limitations of current therapies. Pericytes are gaining recognition within the context of the TME. These mural cells are essential for vascular integrity and may contribute to tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. Although their role has been evidenced in other tumors, they remain underexplored in GB. Pericytes are known to respond to tumor hypoxia and interact with vascular endothelia, influencing responses to DNA damage and antiangiogenic treatments. They actively regulate not only angiogenesis but also the different vasculogenic strategies for tumor neovascularization. Additionally, they affect leukocyte trafficking and tumor-associated macrophages. This review aims to integrate the various functions controlled by pericytes to favor deeper investigation into their actionable potential. Pericytes may represent a promising target for novel therapeutic strategies in order to improve patient outcomes.
胶质母细胞瘤IDH野生型（GB）作为最常见的恶性原发性脑肿瘤，其特点是快速增殖、广泛浸润周围脑组织，并对现有疗法表现出显著耐药性。尽管临床投入巨大努力，患者中位生存期仍仅为15个月。GB的肿瘤微环境具有高度特异性，这种微环境既支持肿瘤的侵袭性行为，又使其能够规避常规治疗。其中关键因素之一是异常的血管网络，它使化疗药物跨越血脑屏障的递送变得复杂。抗血管生成疗法曾被视为有前景的治疗选择，但在延长患者生存期方面效果有限。深入理解GB复杂的血管网络结构，可能是突破当前治疗瓶颈的关键。 周细胞在肿瘤微环境中的作用日益受到重视。这些壁细胞对维持血管完整性至关重要，并可能参与肿瘤进展和治疗抵抗过程。尽管在其他肿瘤中其功能已得到证实，但在GB中的研究仍显不足。已知周细胞能够响应肿瘤缺氧状态，并与血管内皮细胞相互作用，从而影响DNA损伤反应及抗血管生成治疗的效果。它们不仅主动调控血管生成过程，还参与肿瘤新生血管形成的多种血管生成策略。此外，周细胞还影响白细胞运输和肿瘤相关巨噬细胞的功能。本综述旨在整合周细胞调控的多种功能，以推动对其可干预潜力的深入研究。周细胞有望成为改善GB患者预后的新型治疗策略的潜在靶点。
Pericytes in Glioblastoma: Hidden Regulators of Tumor Vasculature and Therapy Resistance
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家