Abstract

Inherent invasiveness of human diffuse astrocytomas is one of the major problems in daily practice in neurooncology. The invasive properties of malignant astrocytic glioma cells are responsible for systemic spreading of these cells in the central nervous system, complicating the diagnosis of astrocytic gliomas and leading to the failure of standard local treatment modalities. Detailed understanding of the complex mechanisms of astrocytoma invasion will serve as a prerequisite for detection and validation of intra- and extracellular targets, which could be attacked by new and more effective complex therapeutic strategies.