Exosomal noncoding RNAs: key players in glioblastoma drug resistance

Abstract

Glioma, as one of the most severe human malignancies, is defined as the Central Nervous System's (CNS) tumors. Glioblastoma (GBM) in this regard, is the most malignant type of gliomas. There are multiple therapeutic strategies to cure GBM, for which chemotherapy is often the first-line treatment. Still, various cellular processes, such as uncontrolled proliferation, invasion and metastasis, may disturb the treatment efficacy. Drug resistance is another process in this way, which can also cause undesirable effects. Thereupon, identifying the mechanisms, involved in developing drug resistance and the relevant mechanisms can be very helpful in GBM management. The discovery of exosomal non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), RNA molecules that can be transferred between the cells and different tissues using the exosomes, was a milestone in this regard. It has been revealed that the key exosomal ncRNAs, including circular RNAs, microRNAs, and long ncRNAs, are able to modulate GBM drug resistance through different signaling pathways or by affecting regulatory proteins and their corresponding genes. Nowadays, researchers are trying to overcome the limitations of chemotherapy by targeting these RNA molecules. Accordingly, this review aims to clarify the substantial roles of exosomal ncRNAs in GBM drug resistance and involved mechanisms.

Keywords: Drug resistance; Exosomes; Glioblastoma; Noncoding RNAs.