biostudies-literatureChoi WSTerry Fox Research Institute Prairie Cancer Research ConsortiumCanadian Institutes of Health ResearchCIHR3072-3086https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12916726biostudies-literatureUnknown27(12)<h4>Background</h4>Glioblastoma (GBM) is a deadly brain cancer with a dismal prognosis. There is evidence that infiltration and therapy resistance in GBM are driven by tumor microtubes (TMs), ultra-long membrane-enclosed protrusions that serve as intercellular communication channels. The aims of this study were to investigate the role of TMs and identify the molecular drivers involved in TM formation.<h4>Methods</h4>We used patient-derived GBM neurosphere cultures that produce TMs to investigate TM dynamics, the proteins and pathways involved in TM formation, and the effect of targeting brain fatty acid-binding protein (FABP7) on mouse survival using an orthotopic model of GBM.<h4>Results</h4>The radial glial cell marker, FABP7, is highly expressed in TMs. Like GAP43, FABP7 is critically iNeuro-oncologyGlioblastoma tumor microtubes and brain fatty acid-binding protein: Path to directional infiltration.PMC12916726190313Yasmin LAu KGodbout RBukhari ABJeon PLarocque MPPeyton SGarg MGlubrecht DDSun Xvan Landeghem FKHMak CGoping ISGithaka JMChoi WSMcGinn DXu XLiu RZfalseGlioblastoma tumor microtubes and brain fatty acid-binding protein: Path to directional infiltration.<h4>Background</h4>Glioblastoma (GBM) is a deadly brain cancer with a dismal prognosis. There is evidence that infiltration and therapy resistance in GBM are driven by tumor microtubes (TMs), ultra-long membrane-enclosed protrusions that serve as intercellular communication channels. The aims of this study were to investigate the role of TMs and identify the molecular drivers involved in TM formation.<h4>Methods</h4>We used patient-derived GBM neurosphere cultures that produce TMs to investigate TM dynamics, the proteins and pathways involved in TM formation, and the effect of targeting brain fatty acid-binding protein (FABP7) on mouse survival using an orthotopic model of GBM.<h4>Results</h4>The radial glial cell marker, FABP7, is highly expressed in TMs. Like GAP43, FABP7 is critically i2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Dec2026-07-16T10:07:42.623Z2026-07-09T10:49:03.006ZS-EPMC129167264089135010.1093/neuonc/noaf200