Fig. 4

Limiting GBM growth by the astrocytic scar. a i) Schematic illustrating the role of astrocytic scar in limiting GBM growth (‘ + Scar’), and GBM regrowth upon scar inhibition (‘- Scar’). ii) Timeline for the assembloid construction assessing GBM rebound after scar inhibition with TBOA and KDS2010. b, c Limiting GBM growth by the glial scar barrier. d Inhibition of the astrocytic scar promoting GBM regrowth. i) Fluorescent images of glial scar-GBM assembloid at day 4 (D4) showing the inhibition of astrocytic scar formation by TBOA and KDS2010. ii) Fluorescent images of glial scar-GBM assembloid at day 10 (D10) with TBOA and KDS2010 treatment, showing GBM regrowth after scar inhibition. e Quantification of scar-forming astrocytes at D4 within the scar-GBM circles (white dashed circles in d-i) from the middle plane of confocal images. f Quantification of the GBM size at D10, showing the GBM rebound after scar inhibition. g Experimental protocol for assessing in vivo GBM regrowth with scar inhibition. h-i MRI images and quantification of tumor volume with KDS2010 treatment. j Mouse survival rate with KDS2010 treatment. Data were presented as means ± SD (n = 3, unless otherwise noted). *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001; ****, p < 0.0001. p values were calculated by one-way ANOVA for multiple comparisons. Two-way ANOVA was used to compare between groups with two independent variables. Differences in survival rate was tested by log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test. Scale bars represent 200 μm. GBM, glioblastoma; MG, microglia; AC, astrocytes