Gliomas are the most common and aggressive tumors of the central nervous system. Rapid tumor growth and diffuse infiltration into healthy brain tissue along with high intratumoral heterogeneity challenge therapeutic efficacy and prognosis. A better understanding of spatiotemporal tumor heterogeneity at the histological, cellular, molecular, and dynamic levels would accelerate the development of novel treatments for this devastating brain cancer. Histologically, glioma is characterized by nuclear atypia, cellular pleomorphism, necrosis, microvascular proliferation, and pseudo palisades. At the cellular level, the glioma microenvironment comprises a heterogeneous landscape of cell populations, including tumor cells, non-transformed/reactive glial and neural cells, immune cells, mesenchymal cells, and stem cells, which support tumor growth and invasion through complex network crosstalk. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses of gliomas have revealed significant inter and intratumoral heterogeneity and insights into their molecular pathogenesis. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that diverse dynamics of collective motion patterns exist in glioma tumors, which correlate with histological features. We hypothesize that glioma heterogeneity is not stochastic, but rather arises from organized and dynamic attributes, which favor glioma malignancy and influences treatment regimens.

This research topic aims to collect and provide an overview of the importance of an integrative approach of glioma histopathological features, single-cell and spatially resolved transcriptomic and cellular dynamics to understand tumor heterogeneity and maximize therapeutic effects. We welcome original research, reviews, and technological articles on progress and prospects for therapy in gliomas, potentially inspiring the development of novel treatment possibilities, focusing on:

(1) Obtaining an in-depth understanding of the biological aspects and underlying mechanisms involved in therapeutic approach in the brain, employing molecular technologies for in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo approaches;

(2) Translational value for the trajectory towards clinical testing of tailored brain tumor treatment, focusing on ex vivo and in vivo approaches, including various disease models.

(3) Findings the most promising glioma therapies and methods of administration focusing on new discoveries and future possibilities.