title: BMPs as therapeutic targets and biomarkers in astrocytic glioma.
abstract: Astrocytic glioma is the most common brain tumor. The glioma initiating cell (GIC) fraction of the tumor is considered as highly chemoresistant, suggesting that GICs are responsible for glioma relapse. A potential treatment for glioma is to induce differentiation of GICs to a more benign and/or druggable cell type. Given BMPs are among the most potent inducers of GIC differentiation, they have been considered as noncytotoxic therapeutic compounds that may be of use to prevent growth and recurrence of glioma. We herein summarize advances made in the understanding of the role of BMP signaling in astrocytic glioma, with a particular emphasis on the effects exerted on GICs. We discuss the prognostic value of BMP signaling components and the implications of BMPs in the differentiation of GICs and in their sensitization to alkylating drugs and oncolytic therapy/chemotherapy. This mechanistic insight may provide new opportunities for therapeutic intervention of brain cancer.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Neurobiología Molecular, UFIEC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Carretera Majadahonda-Pozuelo, Km. 2.2, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: González-Gómez
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Neurobiología Molecular, UFIEC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Carretera Majadahonda-Pozuelo, Km. 2.2, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain ; Laborotório de Biologia Molecular da UFPA "Francisco Mauro Salzano", Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, 66075-900 Belém, PA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nilson Praia
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Anselmo
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Neurobiología Molecular, UFIEC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Carretera Majadahonda-Pozuelo, Km. 2.2, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins