Cancer stem cells and the biology of brain tumors.
There is now compelling evidence that brain tumors harbor a small population of cells characterized by their ability to undergo self-renewal and initiate tumors, termed cancer stem cells (CSCs). The development of therapeutic strategies targeted towards CSC signaling may improve the treatment of brain tumors such as malignant gliomas and medulloblastomas. Here we review the role of cancer stem cells in glioma and medulloblastoma and some of the signaling mechanisms involved in brain tumor stem cell (BTSC) biology, and discuss how these signaling pathways may represent new stem cell targets for the treatment of brain tumors. In addition, we provide illustrative immunohistochemical data on the presence of BTSCs in human gliomas and medulloblastomas, and show preliminary findings suggesting the involvement of a GPCR, the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), in the expansion of BTSCs in vitro.
Department of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Predio 43431, Sala 107, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Debora Gazzana
DG
Flores
Pitia Flores
PF
Ledur
Ana Lucia
AL
Abujamra
Algemir Lunardi
AL
Brunetto
Gilberto
G
Schwartsmann
Guido
G
Lenz
Rafael
R
Roesler
D000818:Animals; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005910:Glioma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018004:Receptors, Bombesin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D018004:Receptors, Bombesin