This $1,064,642 federal Project Grant award from the National Cancer Institute (CFDA 93.396 - Cancer Biology Research) supports research by Tufts Medical Center to characterize the role of the angiogenin (ANG) and plexin-B2 (PLXNB2) receptor axis in regulating glioblastoma (GBM) stem cell properties and preventing GBM recurrence. The key objectives are to: 1) examine how the ANG/PLXNB2 pathway maintains GBM stem cell self-renewal and tumor-initiating capacity; and 2) elucidate the mechanism by which this pathway, particularly the 5'tRNA-derived small RNA species, regulates GBM stem cell stemness and chemoresistance. This 5-year project aims to establish the ANG-PLXNB2-tRNA axis as a therapeutic target for preventing GBM recurrence after standard chemo- and radiotherapy. If successful, these findings could lead to new interventions to improve outcomes for patients with this highly aggressive and fatal brain cancer.
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