Targeting Kinase Signaling in Glioblastoma: Structural Optimization, Blood-Brain Barrier Dynamics and Combinatorial Translational Strategies.
D, J.G., B, F.R., R, C., & M, H. (2026). Targeting Kinase Signaling in Glioblastoma: Structural Optimization, Blood-Brain Barrier Dynamics and Combinatorial Translational Strategies.. International journal of molecular sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27156590
D JG, B FR, R C, M H. Targeting Kinase Signaling in Glioblastoma: Structural Optimization, Blood-Brain Barrier Dynamics and Combinatorial Translational Strategies.. International journal of molecular sciences. 2026; doi: 10.3390/ijms27156590
D JG, B FR, R C, et al. Targeting Kinase Signaling in Glioblastoma: Structural Optimization, Blood-Brain Barrier Dynamics and Combinatorial Translational Strategies.[J]. International journal of molecular sciences. 2026. DOI: 10.3390/ijms27156590.
@article{d2026,
author = {Juanes-Gusano D and Fernández-Roldán B and Coveñas R and Hijazi M},
title = {Targeting Kinase Signaling in Glioblastoma: Structural Optimization, Blood-Brain Barrier Dynamics and Combinatorial Translational Strategies.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.3390/ijms27156590},
note = {PMID: 42589248},
}
TY - JOUR AU - Juanes-Gusano D AU - Fernández-Roldán B AU - Coveñas R AU - Hijazi M TI - Targeting Kinase Signaling in Glioblastoma: Structural Optimization, Blood-Brain Barrier Dynamics and Combinatorial Translational Strategies. T2 - International journal of molecular sciences PY - 2026 DO - 10.3390/ijms27156590 AN - PMID:42589248 ER -
Small-molecule kinase inhibitors offer a compelling therapeutic strategy for glioblastoma, yet their clinical efficacy remains severely limited by blood-brain barrier penetration and active efflux transporter extrusion. This review evaluates current medicinal chemistry approaches and translational paradigms to overcome these drug delivery and biological constraints. A critical analysis of the literature reveals that direct structural optimization faces a multidimensional balancing act; next-generation design must prioritize macrocyclization, structural rigidification, and bioisosteric capping to lower polar surface area and evade P-glycoprotein and BCRP efflux. Furthermore, carrier-mediated prodrugs targeting the LAT1 transporter provide a viable rescue strategy for highly potent scaffolds. Reviewing recent clinical failures, such as paxalisib and osimertinib, underscores that single-node monotherapies fail due to compensatory pathway hyperactivation and clonal heterogeneity, whereas multi-targeted agents or rational dual-node combinations prevent rapid tumor adaptation. Additionally, combining kinase inhibitors with DNA damage repair inhibitors, immune checkpoint modulation, or MR-guided focused ultrasound could provide powerful synergistic networks. Finally, bridging the translational gap requires complementing conventional serum-cultured cell lines with patient-derived glioma stem cells and orthotopic xenografts to better recapitulate the cellular architecture of the disease. Ultimately, overcoming the therapeutic challenges in glioblastoma demands a fundamental pivot toward rigorous neuro-pharmacological design and multi-lineage network oncology.