Targeted resequencing of human Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) tissues, dependent growth factors Glioblastoma Multiforme stem-like cells (D-GSCs), independent growth factors Glioblastoma Multiforme stem-like cells (I-GSCs) and matched blood
Our group have previously provided evidence that grade IV glioma (glioblastoma; GBM) embody cells endowed with tumor-propagating capacity and the key features of stem cells. These are the glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs) and represent a critical, long sought therapeutic target within GBM. Here, we have tweaked our system and circumvented all the issues related to GF-stimulation in culture by establishing and fully characterizing, from primary tumor tissue, long-term expanding growth factor-independent GSCs (I-GSCs) lines, which, as compared to their GF-dependent counterpart (D-GSCs) are endowed with a raised in vivo tumorigenic potential and might represent a more physiological system to understand the biology of the true GBM stem-like cells.