| Glioma is known as the most common primary brain tumor occurring in adolescents and is
considered as a lethal disease worldwide. Despite the advancements in presently available
therapeutic approaches (i.e. radiation therapy and chemotherapy), the rate of amelioration in
glioma patients is still low. In this regard, it seems that there is a need for reconsidering and
enhancing current therapies and/or discovering novel therapeutic platforms. Chitosan is a natural
polysaccharide with several beneficial characteristics, including biocompatibility,
biodegradability, and low toxicity. Without causing toxic effects on healthy cells, chitosan
nanoparticles are attractive targets in cancer therapy which lead to the sustained release and
enhanced internalization of chemotherapeutic drugs as well as higher cytotoxicity for cancer
cells. Hence, these properties turn it into a suitable candidate for the treatment of various cancers,
including glioma. In the viewpoint of glioma, cancer inhibition is possible through targeting
glioma-associated signaling pathways and molecules such as MMP-9, VEGF, TRAIL and
nuclear factor-κB by chitosan and its derivatives. Moreover, it has been acknowledged that
chitosan and its derivatives can be applied as a delivery system for carrying a diverse range of
therapeutic agents to the tumor site. Besides the anti-glioma effects of chitosan and its
derivatives, these molecules can be utilized for culturing glioma cancer cells; providing a better
understanding of glioma pathogenesis. Furthermore, it is documented that 3D chitosan scaffolds
are potential targets that offer advantageous drug screening platforms. Herein, we summarized
the anti-glioma effects of chitosan and also its utilization as drug delivery systems in the
treatment of glioma. |