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Method for Novel Anti-Cancer Drug Development using Tumor Explants of Surgical Specimens
Published on: July 29, 2011
Glioma stem cell research for the development of immunotherapy
Jianfei Ji1, Keith L Black, John S Yu
1Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, 8631 West Third Street, Suite 800 E, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
Abstract:
Glioma, especially high-grade glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is the most common and aggressive type of brain tumor, accounting for about half of all the primary brain tumors. Despite continued advances in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the clinical outcomes remain dismal. The 2-year survival rate of GBM is less than 30%. Better understanding of GBM biology is needed to develop novel therapies. Recent studies have demonstrated the existence of a small subpopulation of cells with stemlike features called cancer stem cells (CSCs). These GBM CSCs are self renewable and highly tumorigenic. They not only are chemo-radio resistant but also often contain multidrug resistance genes and drug transporter genes. These characteristics enable GBM CSCs to survive standard cytotoxic therapies. Among GBM CSCs, CD133(+) cells are a well-defined population and are prospectively isolated by their cell-surface marker. Increasing data show that the presence of CD133(+) CSCs highly correlates with patient survival, making these cells an ideal immunotherapy target population. The authors have reviewed recent studies related with GBM CSCs (particularly CD133(+) CSCs) and the novel therapeutic strategies targeting these cells.
Insights
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor. Targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs), particularly CD133(+) CSCs, offers a promising strategy for novel glioblastoma therapies due to their resistance to conventional treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Immunotherapy
Background:
- Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most prevalent and aggressive primary brain tumor.
- Current treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) yield poor outcomes, with a 2-year survival rate below 30%.
- Cancer stem cells (CSCs) within GBM are self-renewing, highly tumorigenic, and resistant to therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent studies on GBM CSCs, focusing on the CD133(+) subpopulation.
- To explore novel therapeutic strategies targeting these resistant GBM CSCs.
- To highlight the potential of CD133(+) CSCs as an immunotherapy target.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on GBM CSCs.
- Analysis of research on CD133(+) cell isolation and characteristics.
- Synthesis of information on therapeutic strategies targeting GBM CSCs.
Main Results:
- GBM CSCs, especially CD133(+) cells, are implicated in treatment resistance and poor patient survival.
- CD133(+) cells are a well-defined GBM CSC population identified by a specific cell-surface marker.
- These cells possess characteristics like self-renewal, high tumorigenicity, and multidrug resistance genes.
Conclusions:
- Targeting GBM CSCs, particularly the CD133(+) population, is a critical area for developing novel glioblastoma therapies.
- The chemo-radio resistance of GBM CSCs necessitates alternative treatment approaches.
- CD133(+) CSCs represent a viable target for immunotherapy in glioblastoma treatment.
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