Glioma Stem Cells: Signaling, Microenvironment, and Therapy

Brandon D. Liebelt, Takashi Shingu, Xin Zhou, Jiangong Ren, Seul A. Shin, Jian Hu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

138 Scopus citations

Abstract

Glioblastoma remains the most common and devastating primary brain tumor despite maximal therapy with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. The glioma stem cell (GSC) subpopulation has been identified in glioblastoma and likely plays a key role in resistance of these tumors to conventional therapies as well as recurrent disease. GSCs are capable of self-renewal and differentiation; glioblastoma-derived GSCs are capable of de novo tumor formation when implanted in xenograft models. Further, GSCs possess unique surface markers, modulate characteristic signaling pathways to promote tumorigenesis, and play key roles in glioma vascular formation. These features, in addition to microenvironmental factors, present possible targets for specifically directing therapy against the GSC population within glioblastoma. In this review, the authors summarize the current knowledge of GSC biology and function and the role of GSCs in new vascular formation within glioblastoma and discuss potential therapeutic approaches to target GSCs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number7849890
JournalStem Cells International
Volume2016
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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