#IDIBELLseminars: Targeting Glioblastoma Malignancy: A Mechano-Biological Approach from Sinusoidal Sound Waves to EGFR Trafficking Modulation

Glioblastoma (GB) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor, driven by constitutive activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway. EGFR signaling depends on endocytosis and vesicle trafficking, processes regulated by membrane fluidity. We hypothesized that mechanical stress from acoustic stimulation could modulate these dynamics. Using human GB cells and a Drosophila GB model, we applied periodic complex sound waves to assess their impact on tumor progression. High-frequency, non-periodic waves induced lipid bilayer compaction, reducing EGFR endocytosis and recycling. This shift decreased Myc expression, limiting GB cell proliferation, migration, and lethality. Our findings reveal a mechano-biological strategy to impair oncogenic signaling, suggesting acoustic stimulation as a potential non-invasive approach to modulate glioblastoma malignancy.

Hosted by Alberto Ortega – Neurodevelopmental disorders group

Neuroscientist and Principal Investigator at the Institute for Rare Diseases (ISCIII, Spain), where he develops Drosophila models to study glioblastoma, pediatric brain tumors, and rare neurological disorders. His work focuses on neuron–glia communication, neurodegeneration, and translational strategies for therapeutic discovery.
He obtained his PhD at the Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), studying developmental genetics and muscle regeneration. During postdoctoral research at the University of Helsinki and the University of Texas Medical Branch, he pioneered Drosophila models of neurodegeneration, identifying protective mechanisms against prion and Alzheimer’s disease pathology.
At CNIO, he uncovered key mechanisms of cell competition, including the “flower code.” Later, at the Cajal Institute (CSIC), he integrated neuroscience and cancer biology, developing glioblastoma models and identifying pathways linking tumor progression with synaptic and circadian regulation.
He joined the ISCIII in 2022 and established the Drosophila Models for Human Disease unit