Hypoxia Is the Driving Force Behind GBM and Could Be a New Tool in GBM Treatment

Glioblastoma (GBM) can be divided into two distinct disease entities according to the genetic and the epigenetic background of the tumor. Tumor location is associated with high variability in its genetic abnormalities. The treatment procedures for these tumors are often unsuccessful because of the cellular heterogeneity and intrinsic ability of the tumor cells to invade healthy tissues. The fatal outcomes of these tumors have encouraged researchers to find new markers associated with prognosis and treatment planning. In the present communication, we discuss hypoxia as a new therapeutic target of glioblastoma multiforme and the molecular and phenotypic effects of hypoxia on cancer cells. We focus on the inhibition of the signaling pathways, which is associated with the hypoxia-mediated maintenance of glioblastoma stem cells and the knockdown of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF1 alpha). This discussion may contribute to the development of new specifically targeted treatments. Furthermore, we highlight the idea that hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) could be attractive molecular targets for GBM therapeutics.