Targeting the ubiquitin proteasome system in glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) carries a dismal prognosis with a median survival of only a little over a year (1). Current standard of care for patients includes maximal surgical resection followed by radiation and treatment with the chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide. However, data over the past decade has revealed that a subpopulation of cells within these tumors, commonly referred to as cancer stem cells (CSCs), are refractory to these therapeutic interventions and can contribute to recurrence (2,3). As a result, numerous research groups have focused their efforts on identifying unique biological features of CSCs in the hope of identifying treatment strategies that will inclusively target the CSCs and potentially reduce recurrence.