Astrocyte elevated gene-1 as a novel therapeutic target in malignant gliomas and its interactions with oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes

•• AEG-1 is implicated in malignant glioma progression and invasion.•• AEG-1 enhances proliferation, angiogenesis, chemoresistance, and metastasis of the malignant cells.•• Targeting AEG-1 could slow down glioma progression. Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) is an oncogene and a critical signaling molecule that has a wide variety of interactions with other oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, leading to increasing malignant properties of malignant gliomas, such as invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis, and chemoresistance. Its overexpression is enhanced by many factors such as exposure of the cells to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), HIV-1 envelop glycoprotein 120, hypoxia, or glucose deprivation. Thorough understanding of these interactions along with AEG-1 inducers and repressors is important in setting a successful treatment plan targeting this oncogene. Since its discovery in 2002, AEG-1 has made a significant impact in improving our understanding of mechanism of malignant tumors progression, such as breast carcinomas, melanoma, and malignant gliomas. Therefore, it has been a novel therapeutic target for the past two decades. Herein, we focus on the role of AEG-1 in malignant gliomas and its interaction with other signaling molecules.