Taking advantage of neural development to treat glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is by far the most common and most malignant primary adult brain tumor (World Health Organization grade IV), containing a fraction of stem-like cells that are highly tumorigenic and multipotent. Recent research has revealed that GBM stem-like cells play important roles in GBM pathogenesis. GBM is thought to arise from genetic anomalies in glial development. Over the past decade, a wide range of studies have shown that several signaling pathways involved in neural development, including basic helix-loop-helix, Wnt-β-catenin, bone morphogenetic proteins-Smads, epidermal growth factor-epidermal growth factor receptor, and Notch, play important roles in GBM pathogenesis. In this review, we highlight the significance of these pathways in the context of developing treatments for GBM. Extrapolating knowledge and concepts from neural development will have significant implications for designing better strategies with which to treat GBM.