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Updated: Aug 24, 2025

Co-culture of Glioblastoma Stem-like Cells on Patterned Neurons to Study Migration and Cellular Interactions
Published on: February 24, 2021
WNT signaling at the intersection between neurogenesis and brain tumorigenesis
Maisa I Alkailani1, Mohamed Aittaleb1, Fadel Tissir1,2
1College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.
Abstract:
Neurogenesis and tumorigenesis share signaling molecules/pathways involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and death. Self-renewal of neural stem cells is a tightly regulated process that secures the accuracy of cell division and eliminates cells that undergo mitotic errors. Abnormalities in the molecular mechanisms controlling this process can trigger aneuploidy and genome instability, leading to neoplastic transformation. Mutations that affect cell adhesion, polarity, or migration enhance the invasive potential and favor the progression of tumors. Here, we review recent evidence of the WNT pathway's involvement in both neurogenesis and tumorigenesis and discuss the experimental progress on therapeutic opportunities targeting components of this pathway.
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