Prostaglandin E₂ plays a major role in glioma resistance and progression

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary malignant tumor of the central nervous system in adults. The prognosis for these patients remains extremely poor despite aggressive therapy including maximal surgical resection followed by radiation plus concomitant and adjuvant chemotherapy in the form of temozolomide (1). In spite of this intense therapy most patients will recur within about 7 months after the initial diagnosis and usually in or around the original site. Many studies have linked the poor response of GBM to treatment, to the presence of cancer stem/initiator cells (CSC) that are highly resistant to chemical agents and radiation because of their inability to undergo cell death (2).