The battle for the brain: Brain tumor-initiating cells vs. microglia/macrophages

Brain tumor-initiating cells (BTICs) become less tumorigenic when co-cultured with microglia/macrophages (M/Ms) isolated from subjects not affected by glioma, but not when exposed to the M/Ms of glioma patients. Microglial cells and macrophages from glioma patients, however, can be reactivated by non-toxic doses of amphotericin B to curb the growth of BTICs in vitro and in vivo.