Targeting glioma stem cells: A novel framework for brain tumors

• Published in: Cancer science Vol. 102; no. 11; pp. 1958 - 1966
• Main Authors: Binello, Emanuela, Germano, Isabelle M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2011; Blackwell
• Subjects: Angiogenesis Inhibitors - pharmacology; Angiogenesis Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Neoplasms - drug therapy; Brain Neoplasms - pathology; Brain Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cell Hypoxia - drug effects; Cellular Microenvironment - drug effects; Cellular Microenvironment - immunology; DNA Methylation - drug effects; DNA Repair - drug effects; DNA Repair - radiation effects; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - drug effects; Glioma - drug therapy; Glioma - pathology; Glioma - radiotherapy; Humans; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - physiology; Medical sciences; Models, Biological; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Neoplasm Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors; Neoplasm Proteins - physiology; Neoplastic Stem Cells - drug effects; Neoplastic Stem Cells - pathology; Neoplastic Stem Cells - radiation effects; Neurology; Radiation Tolerance; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Tumor Cells, Cultured - drug effects; Tumor Cells, Cultured - radiation effects; Tumors; Tumors of the nervous system. Phacomatoses; Nervous system diseases; Cancerology; Targeting; Glioma; Stem cell; Central nervous system disease; Intracranial tumor; Cerebral disorder
• ISSN: 1347-9032; 1349-7006
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2011.02064.x

The past decade has seen a dramatic increase in stem cell research that focuses on glioma stem cells (GSC) and their mechanisms of action, revealing multiple potential targets for primary malignant brain tumors. Herein, we present a novel framework for considering GSC targets based on direct and indirect strategies. Direct strategies target GSC molecular pathways to overcome their resistance to radiation and chemotherapy, block their function or induce their differentiation. Indirect strategies target the microenvironment of the GSC, namely the perivascular, hypoxic and immune niches. Progress made on GSC targets is reviewed in detail and specific pathways are identified in context of the proposed framework. The potential barriers for translation to the clinical setting are also discussed. Overall, targeting GSC provides an unprecedented opportunity for revolutionary approaches to treat high‐grade gliomas that continue to have a poor patient prognosis. (Cancer Sci 2011; 102: 1958–1966)