Mechanotransduction in glioma stem cell fate determination: from niche mechanics to therapeutic vulnerability and state plasticity (opens in new tab)

Glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive primary brain malignancy, harbors glioma stem cells (GSCs) that drive tumor initiation, therapeutic resistance, and recurrence. While the biochemical regulation of GSCs through Notch, Wnt, and Hedgehog pathways is well established, accumulating evidence reveals that the physical and mechanical properties of the tumor microenvironment—including matrix stiffness, solid stress, viscoelasticity, and topographical architecture—constitute a fundamental yet un...