An epigenetic gateway to brain tumor cell identity

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 28, 2026

Processing of Primary Brain Tumor Tissue for Stem Cell Assays and Flow Sorting
08:14

Processing of Primary Brain Tumor Tissue for Stem Cell Assays and Flow Sorting

Published on: September 25, 2012

18.7K

Stephen C Mack1, Christopher G Hubert1, Tyler E Miller1,2,3

  • 1Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Nature Neuroscience
|December 30, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Brain cancer treatment needs new strategies beyond genetics. Epigenetic deregulation, influenced by genetics, metabolism, and environment, offers a unified therapeutic target for brain tumors.

Area of Science:

  • Neuro-oncology
  • Cancer Epigenetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Targeting genetic mutations alone has not improved brain tumor patient survival.
  • Brain cancer exhibits significant heterogeneity due to genetic, metabolic, and microenvironmental factors.
  • This heterogeneity leads to varied responses to therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review how genetic, metabolic, and microenvironmental factors converge on epigenetic deregulation in brain cancer.
  • To discuss the role of aberrant epigenetic pathways in brain tumor progression.
  • To explore the therapeutic potential of targeting epigenetic alterations in brain cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on brain cancer epigenetics.
  • Analysis of how epigenetic mechanisms contribute to tumor heterogeneity.
  • Discussion of pharmacologic inhibition of epigenetic pathways.

Main Results:

  • Aberrant epigenomes, including DNA methylation changes and histone modifications, are hallmarks of brain cancers.
  • Epigenetic deregulation impacts cell identity, cell state, and neoplastic transformation.
  • These epigenetic alterations represent a unified node for therapeutic intervention.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic dysregulation is a central mechanism in brain cancer development and progression.
  • Targeting epigenetic pathways offers a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome treatment resistance and improve patient outcomes.
  • Further research into epigenetic vulnerabilities could lead to novel brain cancer therapies.

More Related Videos

An Enzyme- and Serum-free Neural Stem Cell Culture Model for EMT Investigation Suited for Drug Discovery07:43

An Enzyme- and Serum-free Neural Stem Cell Culture Model for EMT Investigation Suited for Drug Discovery

Published on: August 23, 2016

10.5K
Live-Cell Imaging Assays to Study Glioblastoma Brain Tumor Stem Cell Migration and Invasion09:36

Live-Cell Imaging Assays to Study Glioblastoma Brain Tumor Stem Cell Migration and Invasion

Published on: August 29, 2018

10.9K

Related Concept Videos

Epigenetic Regulation01:37

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
4.2K
Epigenetic Regulation01:46

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
34.2K
The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
8.1K
The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

3.1K
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
5.4K
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells01:06

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic...
6.2K