The Role of Hyaluronic Acid and Its Receptors in the Growth and Invasion of Brain Tumors

M. Hayat (ed.), Tumors of the Central Nervous System, Volume 13, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-7602-9_26, © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014 Abstract Malignant gliomas induce a complex cascade of changes in the extracellular matrix of the brain during their growth and invasion. This chapter highlights those changes involving hyaluronic acid, a glycosaminoglycan that constitutes much of the brain extracellular matrix, and the biophysical and biochemical effects those changes have on glioma cells. Signaling effects of hyaluronic acid receptors will be discussed, with a focus on CD44. The implications of CD44 enrich ment in cancer stem cells will be discussed. Finally, because these interactions are highly dependent on the cellular microenvironment, we will review various in vitro cell culture platforms that have been used to model glioma cell motility and invasion.