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Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most frequent malignant primary brain tumor. A major reason for the overall median survival being only 14.6 months is migrating tumor cells left behind after surgery. Another major reason is tumor cells having a so-called cancer stem cell phenotype being therefore resistant towards traditional chemo- and radiotherapy. A group of novel molecular targets are microRNAs (miRNAs). MiRNAs are small non-coding RNAs exerting post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in migrating GBM cells using serum-free stem cell conditions. We used patient-derived GBM spheroid cultures for a novel serum-free migration assay. MiRNA expression of migrating tumor cells isolated at maximum migration speed was compared with corresponding spheroids using an OpenArray Real-Time PCR System. The miRNA profiling revealed 30 miRNAs to be differentially expressed. In total 13 miRNAs were upregulated and 17 downregulated in migrating cells compared to corresponding spheroids. The three most deregulated miRNAs, miR-1227 (up-regulated), miR-32 (down-regulated) and miR-222 (down-regulated), were experimentally overexpressed. A non-significantly increased migration rate was observed after miR-1227 overexpression. A significantly reduced migration rate was observed after miR-32 and miR-222 overexpression. In conclusion a shift in microRNA profile upon glioma cell migration was identified using an assay avoiding serum-induced migration. Both the miRNA profiling and the functional validation suggested that miR-1227 may be associated with increased migration and miR-32 and miR-222 with decreased migration. These miRNAs may represent potential novel targets in migrating glioma cells.

High-grade glioma is the most frequent and lethal primary tumor of the central nervous system. Despite advances in surgical, pharmacological, and cell-directed therapies, there have been no updates to the standard of care in over a decade. This cross-sectional study analyzes patient and trial data from 201 interventional trials completed between 2010 and 2023, encompassing 18,563 participants. Although we found that all trials reported participant age and sex, only 52% of trials reported participant demographics, resulting in 51% of total participant demographics being unreported. The majority of studies did not report ethnicity, with approximately 60% of participants unreported. Additionally, males were significantly underrepresented in trials, comprising 60% of participants despite representing 75% of glioblastoma patients. Improved demographic reporting has been observed since 2011; however, it is inconsistent. Furthermore, we cataloged the geographic diversity of trials across the United States and found significant coverage deserts in relatively rural, but highly affected, areas such as Montana and Maine. We found a wider distribution of trials in both urban and wealthier regions, which indicates extensive coverage gaps and decreased access to participation for patients of a lower socioeconomic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]