Characterizing and targeting glioblastoma neuron-tumor networks with retrograde tracing

Tetzlaff SK, Reyhan E, Layer N, Bengtson CP, Heuer A, Schroers J, Faymonville AJ, Langeroudi AP, Drewa N, Keifert E, Wagner J, Soyka SJ, Schubert MC, Sivapalan N, Pramatarov RL, Buchert V, Wageringel T, Grabis E, Wißmann N, Alhalabi OT, Botz M, Bojcevski J, Campos J, Boztepe B, Scheck JG, Conic SH, Puschhof MC, Villa G, Drexler R, Zghaibeh Y, Hausmann F, Hänzelmann S, Karreman MA, Kurz FT, Schröter M, Thier M, Suwala AK, Forsberg-Nilsson K, Acuna C, Saez-Rodriguez J, Abdollahi A, Sahm F, Breckwoldt MO, Suchorska B, Ricklefs FL, Heiland DH, Venkataramani V (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Cell Elsevier

Book Volume: 188

Pages Range: 390-411.e36

Journal Issue: 2

DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.11.002

Abstract

Glioblastomas are invasive brain tumors with high therapeutic resistance. Neuron-to-glioma synapses have been shown to promote glioblastoma progression. However, a characterization of tumor-connected neurons has been hampered by a lack of technologies. Here, we adapted retrograde tracing using rabies viruses to investigate and manipulate neuron-tumor networks. Glioblastoma rapidly integrated into neural circuits across the brain, engaging in widespread functional communication, with cholinergic neurons driving glioblastoma invasion. We uncovered patient-specific and tumor-cell-state-dependent differences in synaptogenic gene expression associated with neuron-tumor connectivity and subsequent invasiveness. Importantly, radiotherapy enhanced neuron-tumor connectivity by increased neuronal activity. In turn, simultaneous neuronal activity inhibition and radiotherapy showed increased therapeutic effects, indicative of a role for neuron-to-glioma synapses in contributing to therapeutic resistance. Lastly, rabies-mediated genetic ablation of tumor-connected neurons halted glioblastoma progression, offering a viral strategy to tackle glioblastoma. Together, this study provides a framework to comprehensively characterize neuron-tumor networks and target glioblastoma.

Authors with CRIS profile

Dieter Henrik Heiland Professur für Translationale Neurochirurgie (Heisenberg-Professur)

Involved external institutions

Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETHZ) / Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich CH Switzerland (CH) Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg DE Germany (DE) Stanford University US United States (USA) (US) Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) DE Germany (DE) Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg DE Germany (DE) Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) DE Germany (DE) Uppsala University SE Sweden (SE)

How to cite

APA:

Tetzlaff, S.K., Reyhan, E., Layer, N., Bengtson, C.P., Heuer, A., Schroers, J.,... Venkataramani, V. (2025). Characterizing and targeting glioblastoma neuron-tumor networks with retrograde tracing. Cell, 188(2), 390-411.e36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2024.11.002

MLA:

Tetzlaff, Svenja K., et al. "Characterizing and targeting glioblastoma neuron-tumor networks with retrograde tracing." Cell 188.2 (2025): 390-411.e36.

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