Role Of Serotonin in Containing Glioblastoma Progression

Paul, Urbi (2025) Role Of Serotonin in Containing Glioblastoma Progression. Masters thesis, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata.

Text (MS Dissertation of Urbi Paul (20MS131)) 20MS131_Thesis_file.pdf - Submitted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (25MB)

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM), classified as the most aggressive and common form of primary brain malignancy in adults, continues to pose a clinical challenge due to its rapid progression and dismal prognosis. Despite substantial advancements in medical science and oncology over the past decade, glioblastoma remains a virtually incurable disease, often termed a “death sentence” due to its resistance to conventional therapies and high recurrence rates. Emerging insights in the field of “neuro-oncology” have illuminated a complex interplay between gliomas and the neural microenvironment, suggesting that these tumors may hijack neuronal mechanisms such as synaptic integration and plasticity to facilitate their growth and infiltration. Among the different neural factors implicated in glioma biology, neurotransmitters have garnered increasing interest for their potential roles in tumor development and communication within the brain microenvironment. While several neurotransmitters have been shown to influence glioma behavior, the specific involvement of serotonin remains insufficiently understood in the context of gliomagenesis. This thesis investigates the role of serotonin in modulating key traits of glioma cells, specifically focusing on proliferation and migration, two critical processes underlying tumor aggressiveness. Through a series of in vitro and in-vivo experiments, we evaluated the effects of serotonin exposure on glioma cell dynamics. After implanting GFP tagged patient derived G68-08 cells, we implemented chemogenetic tools for serotonin activation. Our findings reveal no statistically significant influence of serotonin on either the proliferative capacity.

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