The DNA Double-Strand Break Repair in Glioma: Molecular Players and Therapeutic Strategies

Gliomas are the most frequent type of tumor in the central nervous system, which exhibit properties that make their treatment difficult, such as cellular infiltration, heterogeneity, and the presence of stem-like cells responsible for tumor recurrence. The response of this type of tumor to chemoradiotherapy is poor, possibly due to a higher repair activity of the genetic material, among other causes. The DNA double-strand breaks are an important type of lesion to the genetic material, which have the potential to trigger processes of cell death or cause gene aberrations that could promote tumorigenesis. This review describes how the different cellular elements regulate the formation of DNA double-strand breaks and their repair in gliomas, discussing the therapeutic potential of the induction of this type of lesion and the suppression of its repair as a control mechanism of brain tumorigenesis.

Automated summary

Gliomas are the most common tumors in the central nervous system, characterized by cellular infiltration, heterogeneity, and the presence of stem-like cells. These properties make their treatment difficult, especially in response to chemoradiotherapy. This review focuses on DNA double-strand breaks, an important type of genetic material damage, and how gliomas regulate their formation and repair. It discusses the therapeutic potential of inducing these breaks and suppressing their repair as a mechanism to control brain tumor development.