Signaling pathways in brain tumors and therapeutic interventions

Brain tumors, although rare, contribute to distinct mortality and morbidity at all ages. Although there are few therapeutic options for brain tumors, enhanced biological understanding and unexampled innovations in targeted therapies and immunotherapies have considerably improved patients’ prognoses. Nonetheless, the reduced response rates and unavoidable drug resistance of currently available treatment approaches have become a barrier to further improvement in brain tumor (glioma, meningioma, CNS germ cell tumors, and CNS lymphoma) treatment. Previous literature data revealed that several different signaling pathways are dysregulated in brain tumor. Importantly, a better understanding of targeting signaling pathways that influences malignant behavior of brain tumor cells might open the way for the development of novel targeted therapies. Thus, there is an urgent need for a more comprehensive understanding of the pathogenesis of these brain tumors, which might result in greater progress in therapeutic approaches. This paper began with a brief description of the epidemiology, incidence, risk factors, as well as survival of brain tumors. Next, the major signaling pathways underlying these brain tumors’ pathogenesis and current progress in therapies, including clinical trials, targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and system therapies, have been systemically reviewed and discussed. Finally, future perspective and challenges of development of novel therapeutic strategies in brain tumor were emphasized.